House Committee Receives 161 Proposals for 1999 Constitution Review

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has received proposals to amend approximately 161 sections of the document, according to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.


Kalu, who also serves as the chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, disclosed this during an interview following a presentation to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja.

Kalu described the meeting with state governors as "productive," emphasizing the importance of their involvement in the constitutional review process.

“The pending constitutional revision will not be implemented quickly if the governors are not involved,” he stated.

The deputy speaker noted that the governors play a crucial role in advancing public opinion and ensuring the success of the review process.

The committee plans to visit states and geopolitical zones to gather public input on key areas of the constitution under review.

“We informed them that we are going to be visiting their states and the geopolitical zones to advance the opinions of the public in their various zones with regards to the thematic areas of the constitution that we are looking at,” Kalu explained.

He added that a detailed breakdown of the 161 proposed amendments would be shared during future engagements.

To streamline communication, the committee requested that governors designate state liaison officers to serve as anchors between the states and the committee.

“This will expedite their comments and the committee's responses,” Kalu said, highlighting the need for effective collaboration to address constitutional concerns.

The constitutional review process marks a significant step in addressing pressing national issues. With input from governors, the public, and other stakeholders, the review aims to create a more inclusive and representative framework for governance in Nigeria.

Comments