The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced plans to consider 31 proposals for state creation as part of its forthcoming zonal public hearings. The proposals include seven from the North East, six from the North West, five each from the South West, South South, and North Central, as well as three requests from the South East geopolitical zone.
The committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, will hold comprehensive two-day public hearings across Nigeria's six geo-political zones on July 4 and 5, 2025. The hearings will take place simultaneously in Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West).
Key Constitutional Amendments Under Consideration
Beyond state creation, the committee will also examine proposals on security and policing, including the establishment of state police and a state security council to coordinate internal security policies at the sub-national level.
According to Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, the public hearings will address several critical national issues:
Local Government Autonomy: A bill proposing to establish local government councils as a tier of government to guarantee their democratic existence and tenure. Another bill seeks to create an independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to organize and conduct local government elections.
Fiscal Reforms: Six bills will be considered, including one to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into the Federation Account. Another bill aims to specify the period within which the president or state governors must present appropriation bills.
Gender Equity: A bill to provide additional seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Traditional Institutions: A proposal to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers, the State Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Local Government Council of Traditional Rulers.
Electoral Reforms: Amendments to allow for independent candidacy at all levels of election and enable diaspora voting for Nigerians abroad.
Judicial Reforms: Over 20 bills seeking to overhaul the country's judiciary, including timelines for the delivery of judgments and expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals.
Devolution of Powers: Proposals to transfer items such as labour and shipping from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.
The committee has emphasized the importance of public engagement in shaping the country's constitution and has called on all citizens to participate in the zonal public hearings.
These proposed amendments represent one of the most comprehensive attempts to review Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, addressing long-standing concerns about governance structure, resource allocation, and representation.
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