The Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced plans to hold public hearings nationwide to gather citizens’ views on key issues affecting governance, security, economy, and inclusion.
The hearings will take place simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones for two days from 4 to 5 July.
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Chairperson of the Committee, Barau Jibrin, disclosed this in a statement issued by his media adviser, Ismail Mudashir, on Sunday.
Mr Jibrin, the deputy senate president, said the committee will convene hearings in six selected cities, each representing a geopolitical zone.
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Lagos State will host the South-west session, Enugu State for the South-east, Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State for the South-south, Jos for the North-central, Maiduguri for the North-east and Kano State for the North-west.
These sessions are designed to allow citizens and civil society groups to present their positions on proposed amendments to the constitution.
The constitution review process, inaugurated in February 2024 with 47 members, is expected to run until 2026.
So far, apart from a retreat held in Kano last year, the upcoming public hearings represent a major interface between the committee and the public.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, recently confirmed that the committee had already received over 37 memoranda from various interest groups and stakeholders.
The senate leader assured that the committee is committed to a transparent and inclusive process that reflects the will of Nigerians.
In the statement, Mr Jibrin explained that the public hearings will focus on issues such as local government autonomy, the establishment of a local government electoral commission, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, the creation of state police, and inclusive governance.
Local government autonomy
A major topic for deliberation is the issue of local government autonomy. Despite being the closest tier of government to the people, local governments have operated under the shadow of state governors, who exercise control over their finances and administration, often violating constitutional principles.
Among the proposed reforms is the creation of an independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC), which would be responsible for conducting local government elections nationwide. This aims to curtail the influence of governors, whose political parties typically win local elections by landslides due to control over state electoral commissions.
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The move to deliberate on the issue of autonomy follows a recent Supreme Court judgment which upholds the operation and independence of local governments across the country.
State police and internal security
Security reform is also central to the hearings. Two bills on the establishment of state police and the creation of State Security Councils will be debated.
Over the years, there have been calls from some state governments and civil society organisations for localised policing as incidents of armed robbery, communal clashes and other security challenges increased.
A National Conference was convened in 2014 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan where the participants recommended the creation of state police as a strategy to reduce insecurity.
The resurgence of banditry, kidnapping, and other terrorist activities has increased pressure from governors and political leaders for the creation of state police.
In the absence of a formal state policing structure, some regions have established informal security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-west, Ebube Agu in the South-east, and Hisbah in the North-west.
Despite the security challenges, the call for a state police is still a contentious issue among political figures. Some argued that without proper arrangements, state police could be exploited by governors to harass political opponents, suppress dissent, and stifle press freedom. Others submitted that the best way to reduce insecurity is through state policing.
Fiscal federalism and budgeting
Six fiscal reform bills will also be discussed. One of the bills seeks to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) to ensure proper revenue remittance into the Federation Account and review the revenue-sharing formula.
Another proposed amendment seeks to fix specific deadlines for the president and governors to submit annual appropriation bills. This is aimed at curbing delays in the budget process.
Gender equality and representation
Gender inclusion is another issue on the committee’s agenda, with a proposed amendment to reserve additional seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The proposal comes amid advocacy for improved female representation in Nigeria’s political space, where women currently occupy less than seven per cent of legislative seats.
Electoral reforms
Beyond local elections, the committee will consider independent candidacy, allowing individuals to contest elections without political party affiliation.
The committee will also deliberate on diaspora voting to enfranchise millions of Nigerians living abroad.
Judiciary reform
Several proposals already before the committee target judicial efficiency and transparency. These include constitutional timelines for delivering judgments, expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals, and measures to reduce case backlogs.
Traditional institutions
To formalise traditional leadership roles, the committee will consider a bill establishing a National Council of Traditional Rulers, alongside corresponding councils at state and local levels.
Devolution of powers
The panel will also deliberate on transferring certain items such as labour and shipping from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.
This would enable both federal and state governments to legislate on these matters, a situation which will devolve more powers to the subnational level.
Creation of new states
Perhaps the most politically sensitive issue is the proposal to create new states. The committee has received 31 memoranda requesting new states.
The committee received five state creation 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.
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