CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT: IMO ASSEMBLY CONSULTS STAKEHOLDERS

Imo State House of Assembly says its position on the on-going constitution amendment must reflect the wishes of the citizens.

The Majority Leader of the House and representative of Ikeduru Constituency in the Parliament, Chief Uche Oguwuike, gave the assurance at a Citizens Forum held in Owerri.

He said adequate consultation with constituents would be carried out before voting on the amendment bill when the House would resume plenary in February.

Chief Oguwuike expressed the view that issues like immunity for lawmakers, authorization for expenditure, which provided for early passage of budget and financial autonomy to the legislature, when passed would help to deepen democracy in the country.

The Chairman Nigeria Bar Association Owerri Branch, Mr. Lawrence Nwakaeti, canvassed financial autonomy of the judiciary to check undue interference that could obstruct justice.

A visually impaired lawyer from the State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ndubuisi Ikoroha, called for ten percent affirmative action to guarantee inclusion of persons with disabilities in appointive positions.

A democracy activist, Dr. Jude Ohanele, noted that the forum was part of measures to ensure citizens’ participation in the constitution amendment process.

Participants to the event were drawn from the media, community based organizations, youth associations and the Civil Society.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU