The National Assembly amended Section 124 of the Nigerian constitution on Tuesday, granting all 774 local council administrations full budgetary and administrative autonomy.
The section makes a consequence provision for the establishment of local councils as a full third-tier government without undue intervention from the state governments. The amendment was one of 22 passed by the House of Representatives last week and ratified by the Senate on Tuesday.
Both chambers had harmonised copies of the constitutional amendments made by each of them last month via a conference committee. According to the latest developments, the National Assembly has confirmed all 23 clauses and sections amended by both chambers.
The newly modified document, which would be sent to the State Houses of Assembly for approval, also authorised the establishment of the Office of Auditor General of Local Government and the State Local Government Services Commission.
The clause removed the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) from the constitution, transferring council election authority to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate version of the changes kept immunity for the President and Governors, whereas the House of Representatives version abolished it.
The National Assembly also amended sections 65 and 106 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution to allow for Independent candidates in future elections.
