Constitution review: Reps Receive 305 Memoranda, 112 Bills

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as Reps’ C’mte begins review of bills, memoranda

The House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu disclosed that a total of 305 proposals from Nigerians and 112 bills on various national issues are before the Committee of the House for consideration.

Kalu disclosed this in his address at the 2-day retreat of the House of Representatives committee on the review of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and United Kingdom International Development in Ikot Expene, Akwa Ibom State.

He highlighted the areas of top priority in the review process, which included local govt autonomy, judiciary, electoral matters, state police, gender, human rights issues, and others.

Kalu noted that the thematic areas have been shared amongst the experts to handle, adding that the consultants are expected to dig deep into the thematic areas.

Recall that the committee has held a series of public engagements from its pre-inaugural meeting to the unveiling of sub-committees on work development; the inauguration of the Committee; the call for memoranda; the appointment and inauguration of Consultants; retreat of the secretariat and consultants of the House; a joint committee secretariat and consultants of both the Senate and the House, incidentally setting a timeline to achieve the first set of amendment by December 2025.

According to him, local government matters are given to Professor Nuhu M. Jamo, the judiciary assigned to Barr. Mike M. Osuman (SAN); electoral matters to Hon. (Dr.) Samson Osagie; State Policing was given to Dr. Usman Ibrahim to handle; gender issues given to Prof. Anthonia T. Simbine; human rights issues given to Chief Chris Uche (SAN) while other special matters were assigned to Professor Yusuf M. Yusuf to handle.

The Deputy Speaker further explained that the amendment of the Constitution is imperative to conform to the wishes of Nigerians and to also meet up with the present economic realities.

“The Constitutional amendments are instrumental in achieving better economic outcomes by modernizing legal frameworks, enhancing institutional capacity, better enhancing Nigeria’s economic potentials, addressing emerging economic challenges, and facilitating inclusive development”.

“Today, the Committee will now be presented with the outcome of the review of the bills and memos received”.

“Constitutional amendments have become imperative for a couple of reasons including the need to adapt to changing economic realities; strengthen property rights and the rule of law; promote economic freedom and fear competition; foster fiscal responsibilities and budgetary discipline; enhance governance and accountability; to empower subnational government and; to facilitate for structural reforms”.

“In line with our policy of full consultation with all segments of the people and the Nigerian Society, the Committee will immediately begin meeting with identified sectors and work with the following thematic areas: Local government matters, Prof. Nuhu M. Jamo; Judiciary, Barr. Mike M. Osuman (SAN); Electoral Matters, Hon. (Dr.) Samson Osagie; State Policing, Dr. Usman Ibrahim; Gender issues, Prof. Anthonia T. Simbine; other special matters, Prof. Yusuf M. Yusuf; and Human Rights, Chris Uche (SAN).

“Our consultations will extend to the Judiciary, election stakeholders, women groups, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations among others, and presently we have received 305 proposals from Nigerians, and 112 bills sponsored by Members are at various stages of consideration in the House. These memos have been analyzed by the Committee Consultants and a report will be presented to the Members during these deliberations.

“We will also engage the citizens from across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and will cap our consultations with a National Public hearing in Abuja before the end of 2024”.