 Let's quickly look at another conversation this morning as we inch closer to 2023. The allocation of one billion Naira constitutional amendment that might just be in Joe Paddy. Well the National Assembly heard in March past 44 bills to amend key provisions of the 1999 constitution and transmitted same to 36th state for endorsement or otherwise as part of the constitutional amendment process. The process requires the amendment of not less than two-third of 36 houses of assembly for any of the bills to sail through. However, only 21 state acted on the bill as of December the 6th, according to the conference of state assembly speakers, while at the distinguished parliamentary lecture organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Storders, because of the House of Representatives, Bajabi Amila said, it was doubtful if the constitutional review exercise would be concluded before the 9th National Assembly winded up in June 2023. Let's have Justice Honourable this morning join us and share his thoughts on this. Justice Honourable, thank you so much for being part of the show. It's a good thing that you are a legal practitioner. Merry Christmas once again. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. So what do you make of this now? I mean, look at that. One billion narrow and the fact that we're still grappling with the constitutional amendment process and efforts. Well, actually, the constitutional amendment is not ordinarily supposed to be a test is something that has to go to bureaucracy and every bureaucratic process is also supposed to be complied with. But aside from that, that is not even my problem. My problem is that all these wrong Nigerians are not being carried along whatever the National Assembly seems they are doing all they want to do. And that is why people like Honourable always said that the problem we have in Nigeria is that, well, our so-called political leaders wake up one day to decide what to do with parts public opinion. We have members of the National Assembly, Senators and House of West members, so the question we should address everything is how many of these members will actually go back to them, resolve their constituencies and, you know, the more issues to them before the liberation. And you know of now I know that in this country they say no, no, no, for that matter. So Nigerians only wake up one day and hear that the bill that is being, that is ongoing and called the best. So that is really my major focus. We are going to talk about whether it is going to have a job at the opportunity. Because every bill, all over the world has process to do before each living come to landline. Now, but there are some consents that have been, you know, put out the reason why the process has been stalled because of some sudden clots. For instance, the issue of state policing, we'll talk about local government autonomy among other issues that have been stated. Why it should be included in the process before it can get a yes. From the, you know, state assemblies. No, you see, that is what I'm trying to say. Even in the state assemblies also, I'm still saying the same thing. For example, as I speak to you now, many Nigerians don't even know what is happening now. Now the state assemblies also have it as a duty on their own to even educate their people in various states. Just their opinion. You talk about the state policing, you talk about the autonomy of the local government. In fact, the autonomy of the local government itself, for me, is neither here nor there because for me, the local government is all the initial, all the swear, all the ways to have autonomy. Only that this present governance we have came into power with the kangaroo establishment of the governance forum and hijacked the local government. That is why we're stressing all these things. So for me, there are so many other things. But my problem, they are like I keep on saying. Many Nigerians don't even know what they are doing. And you say you're representing Nigerians. The state assembly members, this is something. But don't you know what is happening? If I let me tell you too, I also try to give kudos to the social media and the journalists in Nigeria for doing a good job. Because most of these things that we discuss nowadays, many people get to hear about it only on social media and through journalists and all the rest. But shouldn't we be worried about the fact that we're going to spend one billion there, it's just going to be a waste? And then we would have the next assembly, maybe the then assembly. And then we will start the process again. So we continue in the secular, I don't know what the target is. Waste. That is why. That is why they will always want to do it within themselves without carrying the people out. Because they know that many Nigerians will oppose to some of these policies that are bringing. Some of these spending jobs, some of these waste are not the right. Today, we are talking about how cheap in the country the economy is so bad. You know how much the dollar is today. As I speak to you in Nigeria, we're not talking about pounds, we're not talking about euros and you're talking about spending billions. Now the question is, this money you're spending, how will it affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians? That is just the thing. They don't care. They don't want to know. And they see it as a waste. They are not seeing it as a waste. They are seeing it as something that will benefit them. So they don't care. And not only them, even the various centres of assemblies, they make a problem and they make a challenge. So but if you have the state assemblies giving conditions for you know, conditions to act on the bills, why have these conditions not been considered? Especially when you look at these conditions and look at the interests of the people, it doesn't look like it's alien. It doesn't look like it's anti-people condition. Why have, you know, the relevant court has not acted and given a yes to these conditions? Well, the truth is this, maybe you, maybe Nigerians don't know what it's all for. For some of us, no. A certain concern, they are just for playing politics with the routine. At the end of the day, they will come to an agreement and have their own. In fact, as I speak to you, running government in Nigeria is seen as a national act. Both these various assemblies, when they try to draft something, they are looking for something. That is exactly what is happening. Not so sure than that. It's not as if that they have the interests of the masses. No. It's a capital no. Okay. But just as we inch closer to 2023 elections and, of course, looking at our democracy as a country, do you think that this singular act, stalling off the constitutional amendment process for, you know, the fifth time would have any negative implication for our democracy and also for the elections? Well, the truth is this. You see, I keep on saying that the major problem we have now as of today, especially in this demonstration is what I call lack of sincerity of purpose. Because if there is sincerity of purpose, some of these things will not be happening. For example, there is a constitutional amendment one way or the other. And some of the amendments here are okay. It's going to somehow, you know, benefit the masses. Because when you talk about making laws, you're talking about laws that will be proactive, laws that will enhance the promotion and the progress of the country. The totality of the policies that will affect the people positively. That is the essence of making law. And it's all like one of our legal jurists, Professor Russel. We say that the law is to harmonize with the society. The implication of that is this. As the society grows, the law is supposed to grow alongside with the society. But when you see some of these things happening, you begin to get one interest or the other. For example, this issue of independent candidates that has been, is part of the amendment. I do not see reason why these changes to election the independent candidate thing wouldn't have been implemented. But that is the issue I was telling you about selfishness and people that do not have the interest of the party. They know that if you try to bring it up to the limelight many of the political parties will be their powers will be watered down. The integrity that is that has become enormous in our political parties today will go to an extent. So that is why you see some of these things happening. It's a thing of interest because most of the amendments today that you're seeing also work against the majority of the so called political leaders. And that is why you see some of these problems winding up and all the rest. And I bet you that at the end of the day like we were seeing these amendments might not be the lab like until the next National Assembly comes and it may also drag for a long time. So how are we even sure that even the next assembly so in other words it's not very visible that you know the 9th assembly will meet up of course we're still looking at you know some time before 2023 is over June precisely 2023. You see of course you know the bureaucratic process and bringing up bills going into the first reading of the college and all the way before it goes to committee stage and blah blah blah and if actually they are serious which or we charge the president you know giving his assent the National Assembly knows what to do the majority can go ahead and pass the bill but has it ever happened in this context before? And the answer is no. And why because like what Fela used to say party-party government there's always a party between the executive and the legislatures in the country and that's why you see some of this is happening we have pushed and moved totally and entirely away from the doctrine of suppression of power propounded by Montesquieu and that is why Nigeria has been affected today that is why nothing is working in this country Justice Huigbo we have to go but I'm sure that you probably have you know word for the National Assemblies across the Federation of the country Well the truth is it's not an indictment but to me I don't even trust I don't even have confidence in this National Assembly this present one I don't so what role am I going to tell them all this why the Nigerians have been talking have they done anything so they see it as their father's property they see it as something they can pocket already pocketed Nigeria with the executive so what do you expect what do you expect so what role would I tell them now for them to listen who have been talking Nigerians have been talking shouting have they listened that is what impunity to the highest order we'll see how it goes Thank you so much but one would be wondering that you know at this point in time if you have the state houses of assembly not acting in accordance despite the fact that they have given you know several conditions which some people on some quarters have said you know it's something to consider it's rational we should think towards all of this line but if you talk about impunity does the system itself not have a mechanism you know to correct all of this impunity what happens to the executive government is there any interference in what the judiciary can do what exactly can the various governments do in order to court and curtail all of this impunity yes it's supposed to have just for example let me give you an example the EACC is there the ICPC is there the code of conduct and all the words but the truth is this for example let me take EACC as an example do they have the will the will to do the need by persecuting high profile politicians in this country with or without favor that is the problem we are having some of these institutions you see they are just you know on the surface so we know what is happening if not and that is why I said you remember the major problem we have in Nigeria is that we have not institutionalized the system you don't need to be the EACC chairman for me to do the needful if the system is working whoever is the EACC chairman will do the needful if not the EACC chairman that is working if the system that will work and that's why they are killing the system Justice Uwegwe thank you so much for your time always we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year thank you very much and you people too thanks for joining us this morning on the breakfast thank you so much for joining us this morning we will definitely return tomorrow with more interesting headlines if you missed out on any part of the conversation you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel we are at Plus TV Africa and Plus TV Africa lifestyle my name is Messia Boko and thanks for joining us we joined the newsroom at 10 o'clock for the news brief stay with us