N’Assembly to transmit constitution review report to State Assemblies by December

The National Assembly has pledged to transmit the report of the ongoing constitution review exercise to all 36 state Houses of Assembly before December 2025, in line with its timetable for the constitutional amendment process.

It also urged stakeholders with specific interests in the amendment process to begin lobbying their respective state assemblies, noting that no constitutional reform could succeed without the approval of two-thirds of the states.

This was disclosed by the Senate Leader and Zonal Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during the conclusion of the South-West zonal public hearing held on Saturday at the Watercress Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Key issues such as devolution of powers, local government autonomy, creation of new states, and the establishment of state police once again dominated discussions at the hearing were long-standing demands that have featured prominently in previous review efforts since the return to democracy in 1999.

In attendance were several prominent lawmakers, including Olarere Oyewunmi, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate; Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Dr Ipalibo Banigo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health; and Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

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Addressing the gathering, Bamidele reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to delivering the report before year-end.

“We have completed the public hearing. We are now returning to Abuja to prepare our report. Part of our timetable is to have final notifications before the end of the year and transmit our report to all state assemblies. This will round off the process of the constitution review,” he said.

He dismissed claims that the exercise was mere window-dressing, describing the review as a genuine effort to make far-reaching reforms aimed at enhancing national development.

“This constitution review is not a jamboree, contrary to some dissenting views across the federation. Rather, it is designed to make consequential reforms that can guarantee our collective prosperity, a more efficient governance structure, and sustainable development,” Bamidele stated.

The senator stressed that the National Assembly alone cannot conclude the process without collaboration from the state legislatures.

“There is nothing the National Assembly can do without a two-thirds approval of all proposals by the state legislatures. All stakeholders must work with their lawmakers at the state level. We must appreciate the role of state assemblies to ensure the passage of the proposals into laws,” he said.

He emphasized the need for continuous public engagement beyond the federal level:

“State assemblies are already anticipating the report of the constitution review from the National Assembly. They are not waiting passively; they are part of the process. I do not envisage any problem from the state assemblies.

“Therefore, we are advising all stakeholders who are seeking special considerations to extend their advocacies to the state assemblies. It is not just about elected representatives, but about the people they represent. Decisions must align with the will of the constituents,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, advocated for deeper decentralisation of power to accelerate development at the sub-national level.

Represented by Abiodun Fadeyi, the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo Assembly, Ogundoyin called for amendments that would allow both federal and state governments to legislate on critical areas such as solid minerals, labour relations, drugs and poisons, telecommunications, and stamp duties.

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“Devolution of powers is key to this ongoing constitutional amendment. For example, the removal of electricity from the Exclusive Legislative List has already allowed several states to transform their power sectors through independent electricity projects,” he said.

Ogundoyin also threw his weight behind the establishment of state police, pointing to its potential to improve community security, ease the burden on federal agencies, promote local accountability, and create employment opportunities.

“Concerning the state police, all stakeholders will agree with me that the debate has gained significant traction. The potential benefits far outweigh the challenges,” he said.

“In essence, what the amendment seeks to address are the powers, responsibilities, and limits of state police. These must be clearly defined, with robust oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse.

“A framework must be created to ensure both federal and state police forces work in harmony, with proper coordination and power balance,” Ogundoyin concluded.