The National Assembly has concluded voting on sixty-eight bills for amendments of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved an amendment to provide for the independence of the local government as the third tier of government.
The Senate also approved the recognition of independent candidacy in the elections for President and State Governors, as well as National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Councils.
Furthermore; a bill to provide for free and compulsory basic education as a fundamental right of all citizens was also passed by the Senate.
The Senate also passed a bill for government to ensure the rights of citizens to Food and Food Security in Nigeria.
Also passed by the Senate is an amendment bill to provide conditions for qualification to become an indigene of a State in Nigeria.
Meanwhile; the Senate has rejected a proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution to provide for pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly.
These are the Senate President, and the Deputy Senate President, as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Senate also rejected a bill seeking to provide for special seat for women in the National and State House of Assembly, just as it rejected another bill seeking to provide Reserved Quota for Women.
However; an argument broke out among the Senators, after some members called for the chamber to revisit some of the bills that were rejected.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, cautioned against any action that may send a wrong signal to the public, following which the bills that were passed were adopted for third readings.