Now the real Executive vs Legislature tug of war begins

by Alexander O. Onukwue

For the Not Too Young To Run Bill and other amendments passed on the floor of the Senate at its fourth Constitution Review, the battle has been won but the war is not over.

The Red Chamber has been at loggerheads with the Buhari-Osinbajo administration on more than a few matters. Complementing its refusal to confirm Ibrahim Magu as EFCC Chairman, the Senate moved to extricate the National Financial Intelligence Unit from the anti-graft body and could pass a bill to establish the NFIA as the nation’s new primary agency against financial crimes.

The procedure for the Constitutional amendment requires that two-thirds of the State Legislatures express their approval before it goes to the Executive for signature.

And assuming that the required 24-state threshold is crossed; can the President stand against any of the articles of amendment?

There have been no official comments on the Senate’s actions but it may not be plain sail for all thirty-three bills. What would the Executive make of the bill to curb its ability to make laws? What about the time frame binding it to submit its Ministerial list within 30 days? And is the Buhari administration really committed to implementing 35% percent affirmative action?

Demola Olarewaju, a strategist for the PDP, pointed out in a tweet the Executive could scuttle these amendments, but the media assistant to the Senate President, Banks Omisore pointed out that there are provisions that should make the President’s exercise of veto ineffective.

The rumble between the Senate and the Buhari Government has been on for two years on a brush-me-I-step-on-you basis. With this Constitutional Review, it has become institutionalized.

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