QUESTION OF THE DAY
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF A BILL IS PASSED WITHOUT COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION?
Section 226 of the Constitution commands that a Bill shall not be passed by the National Assembly or presented to the president for his or her assent if it is not published initially for a period of three months and for a subsequent period of not less than ten days before presentation to the National Assembly.
Hence if such a Bill is passed without such a compliance with the Constitution the damage should be remedied by not presenting it the president for his or her assent. In that way the Bill cannot become law.
Hence a fresh initiative must be taken in pursuing the amendment sought by complying with the letter and spirit of section 226 of the Constitution before any new Bill is presented to the National Assembly. This is how matters stand.
