The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission for second reading.
The bill, which was sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and eight other lawmakers, aims to create an independent body responsible for organizing, conducting, and supervising elections into local government offices across the federation.
The Commission, according to the bill, will comprise a Chairman and 37 members, representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In his lead debate, House Leader, Rt. Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, explained that the Commission will be responsible for setting election timetables, managing polling processes, and ensuring compliance with electoral laws.
Ihonvbere also stated that the Commission will oversee voter registration, maintain accurate voter registers, and ensure that eligible citizens are provided with access to participate in the electoral process.
In a related development, the House also passed for second reading a bill seeking to alter the Constitution to specify the time within which the executive must present treaties to the National Assembly for enactment.
The bill, which was also sponsored by Deputy Speaker Kalu, proposes that any treaty between Nigeria and another country must be presented to the National Assembly within 180 days.
The passage of the two bills is seen as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
The bills will now be sent to the Senate for concurrence before being transmitted to the President for assent.
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