Constitution Review: Senate Holds Public Hearing In 6 Geopolitical Zones

The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to organise a comprehensive two-day zonal public hearings across the country’s six geopolitical zones to gather Nigerians’ inputs on the proposed 1999 constitution amendments.

The committee, chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, said the public hearings—scheduled to hold simultaneously in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central), Maiduguri (North-East), and Kano (North-West)—were aimed at collecting citizens’ views on the amendments under consideration.

In a statement issued to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the hearings, slated for July 4 and 5, 2025, will examine critical national issues, including local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, state police, and inclusive governance.

According to Mudashir, one of the bills proposes the establishment of Local Government Councils as a constitutionally recognised tier of government to guarantee their democratic existence and tenure. This is part of a renewed effort to grant full autonomy to the country’s 774 Local Government Areas.

A second bill on local government reforms seeks to establish an Independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to organise, conduct, and supervise local government elections.

The zonal public hearings will also consider two bills related to security and policing, which seek to establish state police and state security councils to coordinate internal security policy at the sub-national level.

In the area of fiscal reform, six bills are on the table, including one that would empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account, as well as streamline the procedure for reviewing the revenue allocation formular.

Another fiscal reform bill proposes to amend the constitution to specify the period within which the President or a State Governor must present the appropriation bill before the National Assembly or State House of Assembly.

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

To strengthen traditional institutions, a bill seeking to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers, State Councils of Traditional Rulers, and Local Government Councils of Traditional Rulers will also be reviewed.

On electoral reform, a proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow independent candidacy at all levels—from local government to the presidency—will be discussed. A bill to allow Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in national elections is also listed for consideration.

The hearings will also consider over 20 bills aimed at reforming the judiciary, including proposals to set timelines for judgement delivery and expand the jurisdiction of election petition tribunals.

In a bold push for the devolution of powers, proposals have been made to transfer items such as labour and shipping from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution.

The committee will also consider 31 proposals for state creation: five requests 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 committee stressed the importance of public engagement in shaping the nation’s constitution and urged all Nigerians to participate in the zonal public hearings.