The Nigerian parliament is expected to promulgate a new constitution by November to replace the controversial 1999 constitution handed down by the military, a press report said Wednesday.
Calls for a new constitution have grown since May 1999 when Nigeria returned to civilian rule. Politicians, especially from the south, have called for a restructuring of the country to allow for "true federalism".
The politicians argue that the current constitution does not allow for regional autonomy in terms of resource control and police.
President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Nigerian parliament had set up a committee to review the constitution.
But on Tuesday, a member of the committee, Senator Rowland Owie told The Punch newspaper that a new constitution would be drawn up.
"By the grace of God, we shall present a new constitution to the nation latest in November," he said.
Owie said the new law will address the demands for regional autonomy and other agitations in the country.
"By the time the constitution is out, those agitating for an SNC (sovereign national conference) or regional autotomy will have no reason to make such demand again," he added – LAGOS (AFP)
