Reps to meet with NGF, NGE, others on constitution review

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Tuesday said that it will meet with the Nigerian Governors Forum, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Chairmen of the 18 political parties, and civil society organisations, among others, to collate their input as part of efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution.

The Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this in Abuja during the committee’s meeting.

He also stated that the House will hold an international legislative dialogue on women’s participation in politics on October 28, as well as zonal public hearings in January.

Delivering his remarks, Kalu assured that the committee is on track to deliver a new Constitution to Nigerians by December 2025, noting that the reason for the meeting is to gather the input of various stakeholders and brief them on what the committee is doing.

“We shall be engaging the Nigerian Governors Forum, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Chairmen of the 18 political parties, Local Government Chairmen, and civil society organisations in the ongoing process to review the Constitution. It is important to get their buy-in and perspectives as we continue with this important national assignment,” Kalu said.

He listed the thematic areas of the constitutional review to include local government matters, the judiciary, electoral matters, security, and devolution of powers, among others.

He said, “The sub-committee members, according to thematic areas, include Local Government Matters, which is made up of Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, Obinna Ginger, Aliyu Boya, and Clement Jimbo.

“Others are Ibrahim Kabir, Leke Abejide, and Ahmed Idris.”

“The judiciary sub-committee is made up of Hon. Bello Kumo, Victor Oghene, Manu Soro, Babajimi Benson, Gbefwi Gaza, and Babajimi Benson,” he added.

The trio of Hon. Ali Ibrahim, Mukhtar Betara, Olumide Osoba, Oluwole Oke, and Abiodun Faleke make up the Electoral sub-committee, while Isah Ali, Julius Pondi, Chinedu Ogah, Peter Akpatason, Bob Solomon, and Iduma Igariwey are members of the security sub-committee.

Kalu assured Nigerians that clear actionable recommendations from the women’s summit slated for next week will be taken forward in the constitutional alteration exercise, stressing that the gathering will amplify the voices of women in the nation’s political development.