President rejects constitutional amendments

President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the amendments made to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, according to reports.

The President is said to have rejected the changes because they did not comply with the provisions of Section 9 (3) of the Constitution.

News of the rejection was disclosed to Punch by a senior government official who chose to remain anonymous.

“The President has vetoed the constitution amendment and he has sent it back to the National Assembly,” the source said.

“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,” he added.

Jonathan is said to have rejected the document on Monday, April 13, 2015 and returned it to the Assembly.

The amendment and a letter accompanying will expectedly be read on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives any time from Wednesday, April 14.

Section 9 (3) of the Constitution reads:

“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.”

The rejected amendment seeks to approve the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice.