The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday, voted for the constitution alternation bill of 2017 which outlines the processes of amending the 1999 constitution.
The House of Assembly voted on 15 alterations of the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill 2017 transmitted to it by the National Assembly.
The voting process was presided by the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.
The House approved Fourth Alteration Number 27 which provides for the reduction of age for qualification to contest the position of President, Governor, National and State Assembly Seats in order to accommodate youths in the electoral process.
It further voted to approve alteration number 8 which permits immunity for legislators during sitting and to strengthen the legislative process.
Also approved, was the alteration number 28, which specifies the period within which the President or State Governor must present an appropriation bill to the legislature for consideration.
The House voted to approve alteration number 4 which confers financial autonomy on State Assemblies.
Alteration number 2, which reduces the period that the President or State Governor can spend money before the passage of the next budget from 6 months to 3 months was also approved.
6. The House of Assembly, however, rejected alteration number 5, which seeks to abrogate the Local Government Joint Account and permit local government councils to operate separate accounts.
The House further rejected alteration number 9 which seeks to permit INEC sufficient time to conduct by-elections and de-register political parties.
It also rejected alteration number 14 which seeks to provide for independent candidates in the course of elections.
