Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the constitution review exercise which is expected to be completed within 24 months would be guided by the spirit of transparency, inclusivity, and national cohesion.
He said the committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has received over 44 bills seeking alterations in the 1999 Constitution on many issues, including rotational presidency, state police, and local government autonomy, among others.
According to Abbas, the parliament will work hand-in-hand with the executive arm of government at the federal and state levels to ensure that the process enjoys the backing of Nigerians.
He said the process will be deeply rooted in engaging with the Nigerian people at all levels, including traditional and religious institutions, pressure groups and trade unions, ethnoreligious organisations, the diaspora community, and much more.
Commending past exercises, Abbas, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, added that the current review, which is the 6th, would focus on “devolution of powers, state policing; enhancement of fiscal federalism through local government autonomy; further decongesting the exclusive legislative list; recognising and assigning constitutional roles for traditional institutions; and promoting inclusivity, particularly greater gender equity and women representation into appointive and elective positions.”
He called on members of the committee, and Nigerians at large “not to shy away from the complexities and the debates that will arise during this process.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the committee chairman, Benjamin Kalu, said the panel would work tirelessly to deliver on its mandate within the next 24 months.
Kalu stated that in the discharge of its assignment, the committee would ensure that every voice is heard, every perspective is considered, and every citizen is empowered to participate in the shaping of the nation’s future.
The Deputy Speaker also assured Nigerians that proposals passed in the last constitution review which were not assented to by the President, would be revised.