COVID-19 Disrupted Our Plans On Constitution Amendment, Says Omo-Agege

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the COVID-19
pandemic disrupted the plans for votes to be taken on the
constitution alteration bills in December 2020.

Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Review of
the 1999 Constitution, disclosed on Friday in his New Year message
titled ‘We Must Not Give In To Despair.’

He, however, promised that all hands are on deck to ensure that
the votes are taken soonest and the report of the panel would be
ready in record time.

He said: “The Coronavirus pandemic disrupted our earlier plans
to have the constitution alteration bills voted on sometime in
December last year. Consequently, we will have those votes taken on
each of these bills separately in not too distant time.

“I firmly believe that we are on course to true greatness. Let
us keep hope alive as we renew our collective resolve to ensure
that the dreams and labour of our heroes past are transformed into
a better future for succeeding generations,” Omo Agege said in the
statement.

He also called on Nigerians to use the New Year to renew their
commitment to collective prosperity, growth, and development by
contributing more to nation-building and stressed the need for
citizens to continue to demonstrate love and exhibit compassion
towards one another.

The lawmaker acknowledged the resilience and perseverance of
Nigerians in the midst of the socio-economic difficulties in the
Year 2020, occasioned by the novel Coronavirus pandemic, and urged
them to reignite their undying spirit and enter the New Year with
vigour and hope.

“Covid-19 has upended the global economy with its devastating
effects not only on health but on domestic economies and
multilateral trade, cooperation and aid. It has led to a recession
in various countries, killed over a million people, and wiped out
millions of jobs.

“We are also confronted with security challenges in most parts
of the country.

“As Nigerians, we stand together, confident that we shall again,
overcome these challenges. Our ability to overcome our challenges
collectively have never been in doubt, what we need now more than
ever is to galvanise these unique qualities for the good of
all.

“As a people, we must continue to imbibe the spirit of
togetherness and love for one another. We must also support
government at all levels by contributing our quota to the
generation of wealth and the alleviation of poverty in the land,”
he stated.

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution
(as amended) had earlier in August 2020 commenced the process of
reviewing the 1999 Constitution(as amended) Alteration Bills and
amending certain provisions of the law.

The Ad-hoc Committee which is chaired by Omo-Agege constitutes
58 lawmakers representing the 36 States of the Federation and the
six geo-political zones. Other members of the Ad-hoc Committee
include the eight Principal Officers of the Senate.

Since the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, several
constitution amendment bills have been proposed by lawmakers and
referred to the Ad-hoc Committee for further legislative
action.

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the COVID-19
pandemic disrupted the plans for votes to be taken on the
constitution alteration bills in December 2020.

Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Review of
the 1999 Constitution, disclosed on Friday in his New Year message
titled ‘We Must Not Give In To Despair.’

He, however, promised that all hands are on deck to ensure that
the votes are taken soonest and the report of the panel would be
ready in record time.

He said: “The Coronavirus pandemic disrupted our earlier plans
to have the constitution alteration bills voted on sometime in
December last year. Consequently, we will have those votes taken on
each of these bills separately in not too distant time.

“I firmly believe that we are on course to true greatness. Let
us keep hope alive as we renew our collective resolve to ensure
that the dreams and labour of our heroes past are transformed into
a better future for succeeding generations,” Omo Agege said in the
statement.

He also called on Nigerians to use the New Year to renew their
commitment to collective prosperity, growth, and development by
contributing more to nation-building and stressed the need for
citizens to continue to demonstrate love and exhibit compassion
towards one another.

The lawmaker acknowledged the resilience and perseverance of
Nigerians in the midst of the socio-economic difficulties in the
Year 2020, occasioned by the novel Coronavirus pandemic, and urged
them to reignite their undying spirit and enter the New Year with
vigour and hope.

“Covid-19 has upended the global economy with its devastating
effects not only on health but on domestic economies and
multilateral trade, cooperation and aid. It has led to a recession
in various countries, killed over a million people, and wiped out
millions of jobs.

“We are also confronted with security challenges in most parts
of the country.

“As Nigerians, we stand together, confident that we shall again,
overcome these challenges. Our ability to overcome our challenges
collectively have never been in doubt, what we need now more than
ever is to galvanise these unique qualities for the good of
all.

“As a people, we must continue to imbibe the spirit of
togetherness and love for one another. We must also support
government at all levels by contributing our quota to the
generation of wealth and the alleviation of poverty in the land,”
he stated.

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution
(as amended) had earlier in August 2020 commenced the process of
reviewing the 1999 Constitution(as amended) Alteration Bills and
amending certain provisions of the law.

The Ad-hoc Committee which is chaired by Omo-Agege constitutes
58 lawmakers representing the 36 States of the Federation and the
six geo-political zones. Other members of the Ad-hoc Committee
include the eight Principal Officers of the Senate.

Since the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, several
constitution amendment bills have been proposed by lawmakers and
referred to the Ad-hoc Committee for further legislative
action.