Constitution Amendment: KONGONET urges Nigerians to heed call for Memoranda

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

KOGI Non-governmental Organisations Network (KONGONET) has called on all Nigerians to exploit the opportunity to amend critical portions of the Nigerian Constitution by sending their Memoranda to the National Assembly.

The Network made the call in a Communique issued at the end of a “One-day Stakeholders’ Townhall Meeting On The Call For Memoranda”, on Wednesday in Lokoja.

The Communique noted that the current effort has provided forum for Nigerians to make their inputs in addressing age-old national issues and providing opportunities to right the wrongs in national issues.

The Communique, signed by Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina,
Chairperson, KONGONET and Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA) reiterated the need for all Nigerians to collectively fashion out a better future for the nation.

It noted that the constitutional review process presented a crucial opportunity for Nigerians to advocate for positive changes that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.

According to the Communique, KONGONET is committed to actively participate in the ongoing constitutional review process and urged Nigerians to “join the conversation and contribute to shaping a better future for our nation.”

The Constitution Review Committee, he said, invited submissions on a wide range of thematic areas including the
Federal Structure and Power Devolution; Local Government Autonomy;
Public Revenue, Fiscal Federalism, and Revenue Allocation among others.

The purpose of the meeting, according to the Communique, is to discuss and strategize KONGONET’s participation in the constitutional review process initiated by the 10th National Assembly’s Committee.

It said that the networks and other organizations with similar thematic areas would adopt related thematic areas from the call for memoranda and collaborate to develop a memorandum or memoranda for onward submission.

“That civil society organizations in the state are passionate about the alteration on the following areas; Federal Structure and Power Devolution (especially section 2(2), Local Government Autonomy, Nigerian Police and Security Architecture,

“Electoral Reforms for a Stronger INEC, Gender issues, Immunity Clause Review, State Access to Mining and the alteration of section 9 to insert referendum to bring constitutional alteration into effect without presidential assent”, the CSOs said. (Ends)