By Loretta B Manele
The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) plans to bring back to parliament the Constitution Amendment Bill.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele made the statement in a press conference yesterday.
He expressed that the issue of federalism and state government is of importance to the country and GNUT is committed to address this through the Constituent Assembly process.
Manele said at the last sitting of parliament in December last year, GNUT tabled the Constitution Amendment of the Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill 2024 to allow the work of the Constituency continue into 2025 and beyond.
He pointed out that unfortunately, members of the opposition opposed the amendment even after the government had agreed to their proposed amendments to the bill.
“It is very sad to see MPs from provinces that strongly advocated for a state government system, boycotting parliament to defeat the passage of this bill.
The absence of members of parliament during the second reading resulted in the bill being defeated on the floor of parliament.”
He said despite this, government had called for and convened a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 30th Dec 2024 which was attended by all premiers, government MPs and the Leader of Opposition.
“All other MPs from opposition and independent did not attend.”
He stressed that his government will bring back the bill to parliament again and he calls on Members of Parliament, from the Opposition and Independent Groups to support the constitution amendment.
Moreover, Manele said government is reviewing the Bills and Legislation Committee report and the Constitution Amendment, Constituency Assembly Sitting Bill 2024 before finalizing the bill to be tabled in 2025.
He stated that with regards to the next steps to progress the constituency assembly work, the December meeting of the Constituency Assembly resolved on deliverables for 2025 which are the appointment gazetting of the second representative from each province to the constituent assembly, the finalization of the rules or procedures for the constituent assembly and the appointment of the coordinating committee of the constituent assembly.
Speaking on the first component, he said all premiers must formally submit to the Secretariat the names of their second representative to the constituent assembly to be gazetted for the next meeting of the constituent assembly.
“We are still waiting for those names. I ask all premiers to please submit the names of your second delegate to the constituent assembly as soon as possible to be gazetted.”
As for “finalisation of the rules or procedures for the constituent assembly”, Manele said the Secretariat has sent the draft rules or procedures to all premiers twice already this year on the 22nd of Feb 2025 and in the first week of March 2025.
Despite this, he stressed that so far, they have not received any feedback from provincial premiers.
“Again, I ask all premiers to please review and send back to the Secretariat your comments on the draft policies or procedures for the constituent assembly.”
He pointed out that without approved rules or procedures, the constituent assembly will not be able to function.
Manele also touched on “appointment of the coordinating committee of the constituent assembly”.
He said this is the second most important output for the next meeting of the constituent assembly.
Manele stated that this committee will be responsible for the establishment of the 8 thematic groups that will conduct in-depth review and analysis of relevant sections of the draft federal constitution to be presented to the full constituency assembly meeting.
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