July 26, (THEWILL) — The push to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria continued on Friday with the commencement of a two-day North-West zonal public hearing by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in Kano State.
The hearing, held at the Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano, brought together participants from the seven states in the North-West geopolitical zone—Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Stakeholders at the session included civil society groups, traditional rulers, professional associations, and other organised interest groups.
They converged to present and deliberate on wide-ranging proposals for constitutional amendments.
In his opening address, Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, emphasised the Senate’s neutrality in the process, stating that the lawmakers would rely on citizens’ submissions to shape any proposed amendments.
Barau said: “Since Nigeria’s return to constitutional democracy in 1999, following years of military rule, the calls for constitutional amendments have remained persistent and strong.
“In response, the 10th Senate constituted the Constitution Review Committee to engage with Nigerians and foster broad national consensus—not merely to amplify the voices of a powerful minority dominating media platforms.”
He said the Committee’s mandate was to promote reforms aimed at good governance and the protection of citizens’ rights, grounded in freedom, equality, and justice.
“We come to this hearing with no preconceived ideas. Rather, we are committed to legislative practices guided by integrity, open-mindedness, and patriotism. I urge all stakeholders to participate responsibly and with decorum,” he added.
Barau identified key areas of focus for the ongoing review, including electoral reforms, judicial reform, local government administration, the role of traditional institutions in governance, human rights, gender inclusion, federalism and power distribution, and issues related to security and policing.
“We have reviewed the memoranda submitted by stakeholders and translated them into draft bills. These proposals are now open for your further input and discussion,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President stressed the importance of collaboration among all arms and levels of government to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms.
“This process is a joint effort with our colleagues in the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly. Achieving meaningful constitutional reform demands unity and harmony,” he noted.
“I am encouraged by the presence of many federal and state lawmakers today, all committed to this cause. Our collaboration does not end here. We must also secure the buy-in of the executive and judiciary, as laws without implementation are ineffective.”
He reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering constitutional reforms that reflect the collective aspirations of Nigerians and strengthen the foundations of the country’s democracy.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
