Abuja — The House of Representatives yesterday agree to adopt a special procedure for considering amendment proposals to the 1999 Constitution.The House in a motion sponsored by Rep Eta Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom State) and 18 others stated that pursuant to Order 1, rule 1 of the Standing Orders of the House, the House should adopt the special procedure for considering amendments proposed to the 1999 constitution and the matters ancillary hereto.

Rep Enang said the motion sought to fill missing gaps in Amendment procedures set out in the constitution, pointing out that it will address the question of "at what stage do we need with the majority? If that is what we adopt we can adopt the special procedure to guide this process."

He said from 1999 the National Assembly had not been able to successfully amend the constitution, saying as the MPs get ready to amend the Constitution, the motion if adopted will guide the internal activities of the House in the course of amending the constitution.

In his contribution, Rep Mohammed Sani Takori (ANPP, Zamfara State) said considering the motion will be very important in order to have a focus while altering the constitution.

Also contribution, Rep Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers State) said the aim of the motion is to simplify procedure for the MPs on issues of constitution amendment.

Rep Henry Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa State) said the procedure has become expedient as a result of the vacuum created by the House, pointing out that it is necessary to get internal procedure that will guide the House on constitution amendment.

Rep Friday Itulah (PDP, Imo State) said since the Standing Order of the House does not have a procedure in place for the amendment "It's good to adopt the motion." However, some MPs alleged that the motion was a duplication of the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the Constitution.

Rep Ubale Jakada Kiru (ANPP, Kano State) Kiru, who raised a point of Order under House rule 1 and 2 of the House rule, said "The amendment of the constitution is wrong in part... it is not proper to propose amendment of the constitution through a motion".

Also rejecting the motion, Rep Terngu Tsegba (PDP, Benue State) warned the MPs in considering it saying that the Constitution is an important document and that this was the reason it provides very strict conditions for its amendment.