Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said the House intends to conclude work on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution by next Thursday.

The Speaker stated this after the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuf submitted the committee’s report to the House.

Dogara informed members of the lower chamber that they would be expected to vote on the recommendations of the committee.

Dogara said: “This is all-important national assignment. By the grace of God, we’ll bring that exercise to an end by Wednesday and Thursday of next week and it is important for honourable colleagues to be here.

“The important thing is that if we form a quorum and once we get two-thirds, the requirement is not two-thirds of the entire membership but it is better for us to get two-thirds of the entire membership so that whatever we do will not be challenged in court or subjected to litigation.”

The Speaker further made it clear that members would be expected to cast their votes electronically, reiterating: “So it is important for all honourable members to endeavor to attend this all-important session of Wednesday and Thursday.”

“We are using e-voting. So, if you are not here it will be clear that you did not participate in the course of the voting for the constitutional review,” he told his colleagues during plenary on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review also presented its report to lawmakers at the Upper Chamber.

The report was presented by the chairman of the committee and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu during a plenary presided over by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

In a Twitter post, the Upper House said: “The development is in line with the Senate’s commitment to updating the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” (Channels TV)

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