Constitutional Amendments: States Can Now Generate Electricity, Build Prisons, See Other Changes Brought By The Amendment.

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has once again achieved another milestone as the President signed 16 Constitution Amendment Bills into Law at the tail end of his administration

State Houses of Assembly & Judiciaries can will now enjoy constitutionally backed  financial independence, while Railways have moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

Another major change associated with this Presidential Assent is that federating States can now generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid. Which was hitherto not allowed until recently with this amendment. 

Prisons" - now known as “Correctional Services” - has also now moved from the Exclusive Legislative List, to the Concurrent List.

Meaning that States now have the power to establish Correctional and Custodial facilities, and State Assemblies have the power to legislate on such.

One of the new Amendments to the Constitution mandates the President and Governors “to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly…"

Couples of constitution of amendments changing some names of local governments was done. In Ogun State, Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas are now to be known and addressed as Yewa North and Yewa South respectively. 

In Ebonyi, Afikpo North and Afikpo South LGAs are now to be known as Afikpo and Edda LGAs respectively. 

CA Bills originally passed by NASS included one for FINANCIAL AUTONOMY for LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, replacing the controversial “State Joint Local Government Account” w/ a new “Local Govt Council Allocation Account”—to be credited directly.

Not enough State Assemblies concurred, sadly.

With Railways moving from Exclusive to Concurrent, it means rail no longer exclusive preserve of the Federal Govt/NASS. States will now be able to MAKE LAWS regulating the establishment & operation of rail services WITHIN their territory. Inter-State Rail will remain FGN responsibility.