As a part of the ongoing clamour for restructuring, it has been gathered that the National Assembly is seeking to ensure that subsequent ministers for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are elected among Abuja natives, and not by Presidential appointment.
This proposal is meant to address the perceived marginalization of the indigenous people of the FCT, as well as ensure that they are represented in the Federal Executive Council. FEC.
The proposed amendment Bill is titled: ‘A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the appointment of a Minister from the FCT, Abuja, to ensure that the FCT is represented in the Federal Executive Council.’
The Bill seeks to alter section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the appointment of a Minister from the FCT, Abuja, to ensure that the FCT is represented in the Federal Executive Council.
Section 147 (3) of the Principal Act, is altered by substituting for the word, ‘from’ in line 4, the word ‘from’ and inserting after the word ‘State’ in line 4, the words ‘and Federal Capital Territory’.