The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to organize a comprehensive 2-day Zonal Public Hearing in the country’s six geo-political zone
In a statement, Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, said the hearing is intended to gather input from Nigerians on proposed amendments to the Constitution
The committee, chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, stated that the public hearings will be held simultaneously in Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West). The purpose is to collect citizens’ views on the proposed constitutional amendments.
Scheduled for July 4th and 5th, 2025, the hearings will address critical national issues including local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, state police, and inclusive governance.
It said one of the bills, proposes the establishment of Local Government Councils as a tier of government to guarantee their democratic existence and tenure, as part of a renewed push to grant full autonomy to the country’s 774 Local Government Councils.
A second bill on local government reform seeks to establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) as an independent body to organize, conduct, and supervise local government elections.
Also to be considered during the 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.
In the area of fiscal reforms, six bills will be examined. One of them seeks to empower the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission to enforce the remittance of revenues into the Federation Account and manage the disbursement of such funds. It also aims to streamline the process for reviewing the revenue allocation formula.
Also, 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.
To promote gender equity, the committee will also consider a bill seeking to provide additional seats for women in the National and State Assemblies.
For the strengthening of traditional institutions, a bill will be reviewed to amend the Constitution to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers, State Councils of Traditional Rulers, and Local Government Councils of Traditional Rulers.
On electoral reforms, a proposal seeking the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for independent candidacy at all levels of election, from local councils to the presidency, will also be discussed at the public hearing. This is just as a bill for diaspora voting to enfranchise Nigerians abroad has been listed for consideration.
The hearing will consider over 20 bills seeking to overhaul the country’s judiciary, including timelines for judgment delivery and expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals.
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