Bill to amend two sections of the constitution passes second reading

A Bill to amend two sections of the Nigerian constitution has passed the second reading.

The bill being pushed in the Upper Chamber seeks to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by amending Section 54(1) and Section 96(1).

Senate President Ahmad Lawan referred the Bill to the Committee on Constitution Review.

Section 54 of the Constitution reads thus:

54. (1) The quorum of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall be one-third of all the members on of the Legislative House concerned.

(2) The quorum of a joint sitting of both the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall be one-third of all the members of both Houses.

(3) If objection is taken by any member of the Senate or the House of Representatives present that there are present in the House of which he is a member (besides the person presiding fewer than one-third of all the members of that House and that it is not competent for the House to transact business, and after such interval as may be prescribed in the rules of procedure of the House, the person presiding ascertains that the number of members present is still less than one-third of all the members of the House he shall adjourn the House.

(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply in relation to a joint sitting of both Houses of the National Assembly as they apply in relation to a House of the National Assembly as if references to the Senate or the House of Representatives and a member of either Houses are references to both Houses and to any member of the National Assembly, respectively.

Section 96 reads thus:

96. (1) The quorum of a House of Assembly shall be one-third of all the members of the House.

(2) If objection is taken by any member of a House of Assembly present that there are present in that House (besides the person presiding) fewer than one-third of all the members of that House and that it is not competent for the House to transact business, and after such interval as may be prescribed in the rules of procedure of the House, the person presiding ascertains that the number of members present is still less than one-third of all the members of the House, he shall adjourn the House.