Constitution Review: Reps To Meet Govs, State Assembly Speakers, Others

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has announced plans to meet with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on July 23, 2025, to present bills currently under consideration and seek their support for passage.

The committee said it would also meet with the Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly at a joint retreat with Senate Constitution Review members to harmonise bills and ensure consistency across the country.

The House committee further slated an engagement with media executives, including the Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society organisations, and the diplomatic community, amongst others, to facilitate public discussions and education on constitutional issues and promote transparency and accountability in the review process.

The meetings are a part of the Committee’s efforts to ensure the successful passage of key bills in the review by December 2025.

The Deputy Speaker and House Constitution Review Committee Chairman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, stated these while unveiling a detailed timeline of activities at a panel meeting on Wednesday held at the National Assembly, Abuja.

He said, “We urge members to work assiduously to ensure that the current Bills before the Committee are passed by December 2025. We are also considering the possibility of a second round of amendments, as members are still sponsoring new Bills.

“Steady progress is being made on our work plan implementation, and our targets are achievable. However, some crucial activities ought to be accomplished within the given timeframe.

“The second meeting/engagement with the Nigerian Governors Forum is expected to be held on Wednesday, 23 July, 2025, to present to them the Bills currently under consideration as requested during the previous engagement, seek their support on the proposed amendments, secure buy-in and backing for the passage of contentious bills.

“Joint Retreat of Senate and House Constitution Review Members with Speakers/Clerks of the 36 State Houses of Assembly to harmonise Bills will hold Thursday, 25th – Sunday, 28th September, 2025.

“There will be a Constitution Review Committee Diplomatic Dinner (June 20th, 2025) to seek support and collaboration from the diplomatic community on specific thematic areas like gender, security architecture, and state policing to promote global best practices.

“There will also be an engagement with Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations as part of National Assembly Open Week: (Thursday 3rd, July 2025, NASS Complex; Abuja)

“The engagement will bring expertise and alternative perspectives to the constitutional review process, helping to shape our legislative decisions by highlighting deficiencies and proposing further debates.

“It will also promote transparency, accountability and inclusivity in the processes, by ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and engaged.

“Engagement with Media Executives” (Guild of Editors, NUJ, NBAN, etc.) will be held on Tuesday, 8th or Wednesday, 9th July 2025, in Abuja, to facilitate public discussions, debates, and education on constitutional issues, helping to build consensus and foster a sense of ownership among citizens.

“The media can play a vital role in ensuring the constitution review process is inclusive, transparent, and the public is well-informed”.

Kalu also gave a timeline of the anticipated public and national hearings on the bills and a meeting with the 18 registered political parties in the country, saying that the idea is ultimately to aggregate Nigerians’ views.

“As discussed in our previous meetings, the Committee is poised to subject the 87 prioritised Bills that have passed second reading to Public Hearings in each of the six geopolitical zones.

“Zonal chairmen and their deputies are expected to liaise with States under their jurisdictions to ensure active participation in their respective zones.

“The hearings will be held as follows: Northern Geopolitical Zones – Friday 11th to Sunday 13th, July, 2025; Southern Geopolitical Zones – Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July, 2025

“National Public Hearing – Monday 21st July, 2025. Engagement with Nigeria Political Parties (18 Registered Political Parties Leadership) is expected to hold on Monday, 14th July, 2025 in Abuja”, he said.

The deputy speaker also stated that the House will hold a one-week plenary debate on the bills, voting on them is expected to be held on October 14, 2025, and transmission of the bills to the State Assembly is also scheduled for October 30, 2025.

“One-week plenary debate on the Constitution Review Bills to familiarise members with their contents in preparation for the voting is expected to be held on Tuesday, 7th- Thursday, 9th October 2025. Voting in the Plenary – Tuesday, 14th October, 2025.

“The Secretariat Retreat to Produce Clean Copy – Thursday 16th – Sunday, 19th October, 2025 while transmission to States: (at a ceremony in Transcorp with leadership of the Constitution Review Committee of the House and Senate with Speakers/Clerks of the state Houses of Assembly) is expected to hold on Thursday, 30th October 2025”, Kalu said.