The leadership of the House of Representatives has called for immediate withdrawal of all pirated copies of the 1999 Constitution from circulation.
The resolution was passed sequel to the motion on ‘Matter of urgent importance sponsored by Edward Pwajok (PDP-Plateau) who raised a point of order 8 Rule 4(3).
He noted that copies of the Constitution circulated to members upon inauguration of the 8th session of the National Assembly, contain some clerical errors.
“Upon inauguration, members of the eighth Assembly were given copies of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (with alterations), printed by the National Assembly printing press.
“The House is worried that the National Assembly printing press version of the Constitution contains some clerical mistakes which have distorted the intendment of the law and therefore capable of misleading the public, the National Assembly and even the courts.
“For example, whereas in section 88(1) of the National Assembly printed version the word ‘and’ is used instead of ‘or’. This has given the provision a conductive rather than the disjunctive meaning it is meant to have.
“The House also noted that in section 89(1), section 65 is published in the National Assembly version instead of section 62.
“The House is disturbed that the National Assembly is the highest lawmaking body in Nigeria and so its members ought to have the correct working materials.
“The House is also worried that these copies of the Constitution with many distortions could be in circulation in the public and used by even Lawyers and Judges in our Courts with far-reaching implications,” Pwajok observed.
To this, Speaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the Committee on Legislative compliance to interface with relevant authorities to ensure compliance.
