By Ayo Ayodele
A bill aimed at requiring the President to annually appear before each House of the National Assembly to present an account of his stewardship for the preceding year before submitting the budget estimates for the next financial year has passed the First Reading in the House of Representatives.
The proposed constitutional amendment, introduced by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), stipulates that National Assembly members who are dissatisfied with the President’s performance may pass a vote of no confidence and initiate impeachment proceedings.
The bill seeks to amend Sections 67 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution. Key provisions of the proposed changes to Section 67 include:
Section 67 (1): The President must attend joint sittings of the two Houses of the National Assembly to address national affairs, fiscal policies, or other matters of national importance.
Section 67 (3): The President will be required to present an annual “account of stewardship” to a joint sitting of the National Assembly, detailing his activities and performance as President in the preceding year. This report must be delivered no later than 14 days before the presentation of the next year’s budget estimates.
Section 67 (4): Following the President’s stewardship report, the National Assembly will decide whether the President has justified his tenure. If satisfied, a vote of confidence will be passed; if not, a vote of no confidence will be issued, and impeachment proceedings may begin.
Section 67 (5): This section allows the National Assembly to summon the President at any time to answer questions on national security or other matters within its legislative purview.
The bill also proposes an amendment to Section 81, inserting a new subsection requiring the President to present an account of his stewardship before submitting the budget estimates for the next financial year.
This legislation, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024, aims to increase presidential accountability and transparency to the National Assembly.