Senate Sets July 4–5 For Public Hearing On Constitution Review
The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution will hold a two-day Zonal Public Hearing across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones on July 4 and 5, 2025.
The exercise aims to gather public input on proposed amendments to the Constitution, according to Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the committee.
The hearings will take place simultaneously in Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West).
Key issues to be considered include local government autonomy, state creation, state policing, judicial and electoral reforms, inclusive governance, and devolution of powers.
One of the proposed bills seeks to establish Local Government Councils as a constitutionally recognised tier of government with guaranteed democratic structures and tenures.
Another bill proposes the creation of a National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to independently conduct council elections.
Two other bills will focus on state policing and the creation of State Security Councils to manage internal security at the sub-national level.
The committee will also review six fiscal reform bills, including one to empower the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce remittance compliance and revenue disbursement procedures.
Another fiscal bill seeks to set timelines within which the President or governors must present appropriation bills to their respective legislatures.
In a move to promote gender balance, a bill proposing additional legislative seats for women will also be discussed.
To strengthen traditional leadership, a bill has been introduced to establish National, State, and Local Government Councils of Traditional Rulers.
On electoral reforms, the hearing will consider proposals for independent candidacy at all election levels and a bill to allow Nigerians in the diaspora to vote.
More than 20 judicial reform bills are up for review, including those addressing judgement timelines and the jurisdiction of election tribunals.
In the push for devolution, proposals have been submitted to move labour and shipping matters from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.
Thirty-one proposals on state creation are also on the agenda—five each from the South West, South South, and North Central; seven from the North East; six from the North West; and three from the South East.
The committee called on Nigerians to participate actively in the public hearings to help shape the country’s constitutional future.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
