The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced plans to hold nationwide public hearings on proposed amendments to Nigeria’s constitution. The hearings are scheduled to take place simultaneously across all six geo-political zones from July 4 to July 5.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Barau Jibrin, in a statement issued through his media adviser, Ismail Mudashir.
According to the announcement, the public hearings will be hosted in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central), Maiduguri (North-East), and Kano (North-West).
Senator Barau emphasized that the hearings aim to gather the views of Nigerians on key constitutional amendments. Major issues on the agenda include local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, creation of new states, establishment of state police, and promotion of inclusive governance.
One of the key proposals is a bill advocating full autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, ensuring their democratic governance and defined tenures. Another bill proposes the creation of an independent body, the National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC), to oversee local government elections.
Fiscal reform is also on the table, with proposed amendments setting clear timelines for the presentation of appropriation bills by the President and state governors to the National Assembly and state houses of assembly.
The committee will also consider a bill to introduce independent candidacy in elections at all levels.
On state creation, Barau revealed that the committee has received a total of 31 proposals. These include five each from the South-West, South-South, and North-Central zones; seven from the North-East; six from the North-West; and three from the South-East.
The public hearings are intended to provide a platform for Nigerians to participate directly in shaping the next phase of the country’s constitutional evolution.
