CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESS
Independent Nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. (The 1989 Constitution was not promulgated). The 1999 Constitution has given birth to the Fourth Republic, though with problems for which it faces demands for a revision or amendment. The first two of these constitutions were drawn up during civilian regimes while the last three were made or promulgated during military regimes.
Some of the lessons learned by Nigerians during these exercises are enduring. The lessons have been taught and learned that no constitution is perfect; that ineffective constitutions can be amend- ed or completely altered; that constitution – making, whether under a military or civilian regime, calls for adequate consultations and experimentation.
Furthermore, as was the experience with the 1963, 1979 and 1999 Constitutions, any constitution that is hurriedly drawn up and not tried, stands the risk of failure when subjected to the pressure of political, legal, economic and social forces in and outside the society.
Process of Constitutional Development
The processes of Constitutional Development are
- Bills presented by individuals are opinions of the people from such member constituency
- A single individual can also to forward a bill to the National Assembly
- When a bill is brought before the national assemblies (senate and house of representatives) it is called a draft bill, then it is called for mentioning after which it will be read for a first and second time.
- Following this, it would be referred to the technical committees of the National Assemblies who would have to debate it in plenary sessions.
- At the plenary sessions, several amendments would be made to make it ready for the third reading
- When the third reading is done successfully, it will be debated upon
- The legislators will vote in order to approve it into a law
- When 2/3 of the legislators vote in favor of the , it is then approved and forwarded to the executive, which is usually the president or or his signatory. If the 2/3 vote against it , it will be stepped down.
