Senate cuts president’s power over INEC

Written by Daily Trust Wednesday, 24 March 2010

ShareThe Senate has moved to adopt an amendment to Section 160 of the 1999 Constitution to remove the power of president to control activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Senate will today vote on the recommendations of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu led-Senate Committee on Review of the Constitution (SCRC) which recommends political and financial autonomy for INEC.

Voting on the recommendations could not be taken yesterday due to absence of several senators from the consideration session while the Constitution requires two/third  majority votes, or 73 senators, in favour of each recommendation to pass as amendment.

During the clause by clause consideration yesterday, Senate adopted that Section 162 be amended to read “(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any of the bodies may with the approval of the President , by rules otherwise regulate its own procedure or confer powers and impose duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its function, provided that in the case of INEC, its powers to make its own rules or otherwise regulate its own procedure shall not be subject to the approval of the President.”

The committee has also recommended financial autonomy for INEC as the body has now been listed along with the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary as institutions to get first line charge from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the federation.

Senator Ekweremadu said the provision is to ensure the integrity of the INEC chairman.

The Senate also has lined an amendment to prohibit chairman and members of INEC from being card carrying members of political parties.

The Senate will also vote on amendment to Section 65 (2a) of the Constitution, making tertiary education the minimum qualification to stand for election in the country.