Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed that the National Assembly is reviewing 161 sections of the 1999 Constitution as part of the current amendment process.
Speaking to reporters after a private meeting with the 36 state governors, which began Wednesday night and extended into early Thursday in Abuja, Kalu emphasized the importance of including governors’ perspectives, as they are key stakeholders.
The 10th National Assembly has initiated this new round of constitutional amendments, aiming to conclude the process by December 2025.
Among the issues under consideration are state police, electoral reforms, local government autonomy, voting rights for Nigerians abroad, and the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along with pre-and post-election matters and judicial decisions on electoral disputes.
As the head of the House committee overseeing the constitutional review, Kalu noted that the governors support the initiative and are prepared to welcome lawmakers for public hearings across the states.
“We informed them of the 161 areas under review and will provide detailed updates in upcoming sessions.
“This will not be a one-time engagement; we plan multiple sessions to handle this process differently than before,” Kalu explained.
Regarding tax reforms, Kalu mentioned that tax issues were not a primary focus for the governors, who mainly discussed local government reforms and related areas.
A communique issued by Kwara State Governor and Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq confirmed the governors’ commitment to participating actively in the amendment process to reinforce Nigeria’s legal framework.
The communique stated, “The Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Forum and the Committee, suggesting a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to align state-level priorities with the constitutional review.”
The governors also pledged to strengthen federal-state collaboration, enhance girl-child education, and promote vocational training across Nigeria.
In response to the emergence of a new terror group, Lakurawa, responsible for numerous attacks in Kebbi, Sokoto, and other areas in the North West, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who delivered the communique, stated, “We each face distinct security issues, but we are closely coordinating with relevant security agencies.
“We are confident that it is only a matter of time before these challenges are resolved.”