The move to amend the parts of the constitution regarding Sharia Law along with others has been met with uproar and opprobrium.
The bill was presented on the floor of the house on Thursday and was subsequently referred to the adhoc committee on Constitution review due to the fact that there was no debate on it.
It was therefore believed by some that the move is a plot to Islamize the nation.
Speaker of the house Yakubu Dogara had to explain that the Bill only sought to make applicable certain criminal aspects of the constitution as regards Sharia Law.
The Speaker blasted critics who insinuated that he ‘snuck’ the bill in saying that it showed a ‘crass ignorance’ of the legislative process.
“Bills are always gazetted before they are scheduled for second reading and gazettes are public documents.” he said.
He explained the special nature of amendment bills and how they’re different from regular bills “An amendment bill is not a regular bill that can be said to have passed second reading, passing it only meant it’s in the mill.”
He explained further, “All such bills are read and referred to the House Special Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review for legislative fireworks”, and “only the House Special Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review can propose a final bill on review
“As it is there no proposed bill from the ad hoc committee yet, the bill in question is just a working document. Those talking about sneaking a bill are either ignorant of the process or plainly mischievous”.
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