Bill on ministerial slot for FCT inhabitants scales second reading

A constitutional amendment bill to address the lingering agitation of the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for a ministerial slot in the federal cabinet scaled second reading at the House of Representatives yesterday.

Sponsor of the bill, Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo, while leading debate on the general principle of the proposed amendment requested that Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) be altered to make it compulsory for a minister to be appointed from the FCT, as is the case with the 36 states of the Federation.

Arguing in support of Jisalo’s proposal at the resumed sitting of the chamber yesterday, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor cited Section 229 of the Constitution, stressing that the proposed amendment would give succour to the yearnings of the original inhabitants of the FCT.