Senate seeks to withdraw ‘different versions’ of Constitution

    The Senate yesterday passed a unanimous resolution seeking the withdrawal of Constitution in circulation across the country.


   The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu) on the need to harmonise the different versions and copies of the Constitution.

   To this effect, the Senate has directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to liaise with the National Judicial Council, NJC; Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Law Reform Commission to constitute a Law Review Committee to withdraw the different versions of the constitution in circulation.

   It called for “the printing and distribution of the authentic, consolidated Constitution of the Federation with the different alterations embedded, where they belong to make the Constitution one whole document to guide the generality of the Nigerian populace and the international community”.

   Moving the motion, Utazi said since 1999, the Constitution has successfully gone through three alterations, in July 2010; November 2010 and March 2011 respectively and in each case, amending various provisions to bring them in conformity with contemporary democratic practice and realities.