The Nigerian Senate has scheduled a two-day nationwide public hearing on constitutional amendments for July 4 and 5, with Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, set to lead the exercise.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senator Barau, the hearings will take place simultaneously across the country’s six geo-political zones: Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West).
Barau explained that the aim of the hearings is to give Nigerians the platform to express their views on fundamental issues shaping governance and democracy in the country.
“This is a critical moment for our democracy. We are calling on all Nigerians to be part of this national dialogue,” he said. “The aim is to ensure that the voices of citizens are reflected in the constitution that governs them.”
The committee will consider over 50 constitutional amendment proposals covering a wide range of pressing national issues, including local government autonomy, gender representation, creation of new states, and judicial reform.
At the center of the deliberations are two bills seeking to grant full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. One bill seeks to constitutionally recognize local governments as a distinct tier of government, while the other proposes establishing an independent electoral body to oversee local elections — a move that could reduce state control over grassroots governance.
Security is another key focus, with bills proposing the creation of state police forces and security councils to enable more localized responses to insecurity across the country.
On the fiscal front, six bills have been tabled. These include proposals to enforce timelines for governors and the president to submit annual budgets, and to strengthen the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to improve transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
In addition, 31 separate demands for the creation of new states — with seven coming from the North East alone — are up for discussion. Other regions, including the South West, South South, and North Central, have also submitted multiple statehood proposals.
To address gender imbalance in governance, a proposed bill seeks to reserve more legislative seats for women at both the national and state levels.
Traditional institutions have not been left out, as the committee will also consider a bill that seeks to grant formal constitutional recognition to National, State, and Local Government Councils of Traditional Rulers.
Further proposals include bills that would allow Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in elections and permit independent candidates to run for office at all levels of government.
Over 20 bills on judicial reforms have also been submitted, targeting delays in the delivery of justice and seeking to expand the powers of election tribunals.
Barau stressed that this is not just a legislative process but a moment for citizens to shape the future of their country. “This is more than a legal exercise — it is a democratic process. Every citizen has a stake in the Constitution. This is your opportunity to be heard,” he said.
