By Ade Iyamoye
The House of Representatives has officially launched a fresh review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, bringing critical issues such as state creation, power devolution, local government autonomy, and electoral reforms to the front burner.
Kicking off with a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, lawmakers, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), reviewed over 250 amendment proposals.
However, none of the 31 requests for new states met constitutional requirements, prompting the committee to extend the submission deadline to March 5, 2025.
Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, emphasized the need for well-structured proposals, urging proponents of state creation to refine their submissions.
Beyond state creation, the review process is set to address key governance challenges, including devolution of power to states, local government autonomy, revenue allocation, security reforms, judicial efficiency, and gender inclusivity.
With past constitutional reform efforts often stalled by political interests, skepticism remains high.
However, Kalu assured Nigerians of a transparent and inclusive process, announcing nationwide public hearings to ensure broad citizen participation.
As the March 5 deadline approaches, the question remains: Will this constitutional review finally bring the long-awaited governance reforms Nigerians seek?
