by Kolapo Olapoju
President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly rejected the amendments made to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
According to Punch Newspapers, a top government official disclosed that the President vetoed the amendment on Monday, April 14.
Jonathan was said to have refused to sign the amendment document because it did not meet the provisions of Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The rejected amended constitution granted approval for the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister/Commissioner of Justice.
He said: “The President has vetoed the constitution amendment and he has sent it back to the National Assembly. The amendment did not meet the provision of Section 9 (3) of the constitution which talks about the need for four fifth of the National Assembly to agree with the amendment.”
Read below what Section 9 (3) of the Constitution says about amending a law:
“An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering the provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-third of all states.”
