Speaker of House Of Representatives Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara yesterday charged the newly inaugurated Committee on review of the existing Laws and Law Reform to ensure that they assist the House in cleaning up their Statute books and bringing all their laws up to date in order to meet the social, political and developmental needs of the country.
“The major reason that informed the setting up of this Committee is the urgent need to review the various Laws that dot our Statute books, some of which have become obsolete, anachronistic, outdated, and spent”.
The Speaker who gave this advice when he inaugurated a 12 man Committee to review the existing laws and law reform equally urged them to come up with new laws that will aid the anti corruption struggle, infrastructure renewal, efficient as well as optimal utilization of our Petroleum resources, “Solid minarels, education and Social, Agriculture, diversification of our Economy and massive employment of our teeming youthful population should engage our undivided attention as a parliament”.
”The review of the Laws since the coming into effect of the 1999 Constitution has been very unsatisfactory as our existing laws still contain many anachronistic provisions and out of date sanctions for any breach. Fines of N20 or N50 for major infractions still exist in our Statutes”.
Hon. Dogara assured the Committee of the resolute of the 8th House of Representatives to expeditiously pass all major Bills before it or submitted to it that will impact positively on the lives and well being of Nigerians.
“We have also pledged to introduce and enforce strict time frames for passing Legislation. To this end, we must build necessary synergy with our counterparts in the Senate to coordinate activities of both Chambers and avoid duplication, overlap and waste of time and resources. Indeed we call on Mr. President to take early advantage of the 8th Assembly that is poised to cooperate and ensure speedy passage of Bills. Our experience shows that Bills introduced early into the life of a Parliament has better chances of expeditious consideration. That is why the work of this Committee is so important. We shall welcome Executive Bills from Mr. President on various subjects but we shall also introduce Private Members Bills where necessary to fast track legislation”.
The following are the terms of Reference that the Committee is expected to come up with:
To advise the Hon Speaker and the House of Representatives on the legislative action required for revision of all existing laws with a view to incorporating all amendments and adaptations made earlier.
To advise the Hon Speaker and the House of Representatives by collating all existing laws and evaluating its efficacy and effectiveness
To assess all existing laws and identify areas that require reform or revision or further legislative action
To consolidate various aspects of Statutes on a particular subject by bringing them together
To codify relevant body of laws or legal precepts and To advise the Hon Speaker and the House of Representatives on the appropriate legislative action
To review all existing laws and determine the obsolete, outdated and spent laws in our Statute books for the purposes of deletion or repeal by the National Assembly
To assist the Hon Speaker and the House of Representatives in crafting the bills necessary to achieve the objectives of the Committee.
To identify and draft new Bills on critical Sectors of the Nigerian economy consistent with the Legislative Agenda of the 8th House of Representatives.
To identify and advise the Hon Speaker and the House of Representatives on the domestication of all pending Treaties, Protocols and Agreements.
Any other recommendation or advise that the Committee may consider necessary or expedient within the context of the subject matter of this assignment
The Members of the Committee that were inaugurated by the Speaker are as follow:
1. Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno
2. Hon. Razak Atunwa
3. Hon. Ken Chikere
4. Hon. Madubueze Peter Obiano
5. Hon. Olabode Ayorinde
6. Hon. Simon Arabo
Other members are:
1. NBA President – Austin Alegeh, SAN
NBA Secretary – Mr. Afam Osigwe
2. Prof C. O. Okonkwo, SAN
3. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN
4. Prof Auwalu Yadudu
5. Prof Oyelowo Oyewo
6. Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN
7. National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS)
i. Dr. Ladi Hamalai, Director General
ii. Prof Okechukwu Oko
iii. Dr. S. A. Danwanka
8. Prof Ade Adekunle, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS)
9. Barr Kefas Magaji – Ag. Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission
Mrs. Oguneye – Secretary, Nigerian Law Reform Commission
10. Mr. M. A. Sani Omolori, Clerk, House of Representatives
11. Director, Legal, National Assembly
12. Hon. C. I. D. Maduabum, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.
The program was put together by UNDP and National Institute for Legislative Studies.
Yakubu Dogara, House of Representatives Speaker
