The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has affirmed that it has taken note of the key issues raised by Nigerians during its recent series of public hearings and is committed to addressing them in the ongoing amendment process.
Speaking at the conclusion of the South-West Public Hearing in Ikeja, Lagos, Deputy Senate President and Committee Chairman, Senator Jubrin Barau, represented by Vice Chairman and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, stated that all submissions received would be carefully reviewed and presented to the full Senate for deliberation.
According to Senator Barau, the committee is working toward submitting a final draft of the constitutional amendment to the State Houses of Assembly before the end of 2025, in line with the legislative timetable.
Major Issues Raised During the Hearings
Senator Barau highlighted that stakeholders from the South-West and other regions voiced strong opinions on several critical national matters, including:
State Creation
Establishment of State Police
Electoral and Judicial Reforms
Devolution of Powers
Resource Control
Special Seats for Women in Governance
He emphasized that the hearings were far from ceremonial and that the committee is determined to give all issues the thoughtful consideration they deserve to advance democratic governance and national development.
Inclusive and Transparent Process
“The whole essence is to ensure that the constitution is not changed without the popular consensus of Nigerians,” Barau said, assuring citizens that meaningful outcomes would emerge from the process, just as in previous amendments.
He added that the committee has heard from a diverse cross-section of the population, including youth groups, women, professionals, and traditional rulers, and that their concerns will guide the final proposals.
Barau noted that reforms achieved in past constitutional reviews—particularly in Nigeria’s electoral framework—are evidence that such engagements can produce tangible improvements.
Focus Areas of the Constitutional Review
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the committee is prioritizing the following thematic areas in the current amendment process:
Constitutional Rights and Freedoms
Federalism and Resource Control
Judicial Reform and Socio-Justice
Security, Policing, and Devolution of Powers
Electoral and Institutional Reforms
Inclusive Governance and State Creation
Human Rights and Fiscal Reforms
Barau concluded by reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to participatory democracy, stating that Nigerians will continue to have a voice in shaping the laws that govern them.
“We are going to Abuja to file our report and conclude this process. Before the end of the year, we expect to send a final proposal to the State Houses of Assembly so that the amendment can be finalized without further delay.”
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