CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The constitutions of Nigeria 1999 and America 1787 in varying terms grant governmental powers to the federal and state governments. The obligations and rights of citizens are provided and protected respectively. There are also procedural steps by which alterations can be made in these respective constitutions. The paper observes that though the similarities are shared structurally between these respective countries, the issue and challenges emanating from constitutional amendment differ. Though there are formal procedural steps to effect amendments provided in the respective constitutions, the gaps in some provisions coupled with inter-play of changing social, political and economic factors among other forces raise issues and challenges in varying degrees thereto. This leads to entertainment of informal amendments by judicial interpretation as a constitutional possibility. Against the foregoing backdrop, the issues and challenges of constitutional amendments in Nigeria and America are examined in comparative terms. It is discovered that the issues and challenges are identifiable as they exists, however solutions to them are more imaginative and speculative than practical.