*The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) conducts public hearing July 4-5, 2025, to examine critical national issues, including local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, state police and inclusive governance

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

For Nigerians鈥� inputs on the proposed amendments, the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT, is set to organise a two-day comprehensive Zonal Public Hearing July 4-5, 2025, across the six geo-political zones in the country.

Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, who chairs the Committee said the public hearing would be held simultaneously, in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South, Jos (North-Central) Maiduguri (North East) and Kano (North-West).

Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President

Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, in a statement Sunday, June 22, 2025, noted Senator Jibrin said the public hearing is being convened to gather the inputs of Nigerians on the proposed amendments to the country’s Constitution.

The Chairman of the Committee said the public hearing across the geopolitical zones would examine critical national issues, including local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, state police and inclusive governance.

The statement also indicated that one of the bills proposes the establishment of Local Government Councils as a tier of government to guarantee their democratic existence and tenure.

It is equally noted this is part of a renewed push to grant full autonomy to the country鈥檚 774 Local Government Councils (LGCs).

The Senate stated that the second bill on local government reforms seeks to create an independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to organise, conduct and supervise local government elections in Nigeria.

For consideration during the two-day zonal public hearing are two bills on security and policing for the establishment of state police and state security council to coordinate internal security policies at the sub-national level.

As regards fiscal reforms, six bills are going to be considered, including the one to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account and streamline the procedure for reviewing the revenue allocation formula, noted the statement.

On fiscal reforms, a bill to alter the provisions of the constitution to specify the period within which the president or the governor of a state shall present the appropriation bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly will be discussed during the hearing.

In a renewed move towards gender equity, the Committee also will consider a bill to provide additional seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.

To strengthen traditional institutions, a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers, the State Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Local Government Council of Traditional Rulers would also be considered.

In regard to electoral reforms, a proposal seeking the amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to allow for independent candidacy at all levels of election, from local councils to the presidency, will also be discussed at the public hearing.

Likewise, a bill for Diaspora voting to enfranchise Nigerians abroad has been listed for consideration, the statement noted.

The public hearing in the zones will consider over 20 bills seeking to overhaul the country鈥檚 Judiciary, including timelines for judgment delivery and expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals.

On devolution of powers, proposals have been made to transfer items, such as labour and shipping from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.

During the public hearing, there are also 31 proposals on state creation, with five requests each from the South-West, South-South, and North-Central geopolitical zones.

The statement revealed the Committee had received seven requests from the North-East, six from the North-West, and three from the South-East.

The Senate Committee on the Review, therefore, restated the significance of public engagement in shaping the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.

The statement urged all Nigerians to participate during the zonal public hearing across the six geopolitical zones.

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