By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Senator Gbenga Ashafa has canvassed amendment of treaties making procedure to make way for consultation of the National Assembly before the executive arm of government can sign treaties with other countries or organisations.

The bill for the amendment had earlier been sponsored by Senator Ashafa, who represents Lagos East senatorial district, but was stood down for further debate before year’s end.

Ashafa, in a statement by his Head, Media and Strategy, Mr. Babatunde Adegunju, explained that the bill would ensure active participation of the committee of the whole in the National Assembly in the process of initiating and making treaties.

The bill, if passed into law, would facilitate easy and quick comprehension of treaties and speed up their approval by the National Assembly.

Ashafa said: “The central aim of this bill is to ensure that treaty making is a concurrent function as it is in other countries.

“The measure also checks presidential power and have representatives of the states and of the people make inputs at the negotiation and ratification stages of treaty making.”