A new constitutional amendment bill seeks to strip President Tinubu of the power to appoint INEC chairman, transferring it to the NJC for transparency.
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is reviewing a bill that seeks to strip President Bola Tinubu of the power to appoint the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to involve the National Judicial Council (NJC) in the appointment process, thereby enhancing the independence, credibility, and transparency of INEC’s leadership.
This proposal echoes the 2007 recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais, which advised transferring appointment powers from the President to the NJC and placing INEC’s funding on the Consolidated Revenue Fund to safeguard its autonomy.
Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, welcomed the proposed change, calling it “a step in the right direction.” He said: “It is one of the many good recommendations to insulate the INEC chair from political and executive pressures, and cure the deep-seated impression that ‘he who pays the piper dictates the tune.’”
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