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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The National Assembly has said the success of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution lies with the 36 states Houses of Assembly.
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and co-chairman, National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, stated this, yesterday, in Abuja, at a retreat organised for members of the committee..
Kalu, who said the citizens were looking up to the parliament to come up with a constitution that will address their yearnings, explained that ongoing constitution review exercise would address issues bordering on devolution of power, fiscal federalism and local government autonomy, among others.
He said the committee would meet with governors to brief them on the proposals for the review on Wednesday, saying the exercise was not aimed at undermining their authority but to improve governance in the country.
“Most recently, our deliberations at the Lagos Retreat in October 2025 produced a critical consensus on priority reform areas. That retreat was a defining moment; it brought together the finest minds from both chambers and we left Lagos with a shared understanding of the constitutional amendments that enjoy the broadest public support and political feasibility.
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“I cannot over-emphasize the importance of state-level ownership in this constitutional review process. As we all know, Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires that any alteration to the constitution must be approved by, at least, two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the Federation.
“This means that no matter how brilliant, necessary, or popular our amendments may be, they will not become law without the support of at least 24 out of 36 State Assemblies. State domestication is, therefore, the constitutional gateway through which every amendment must pass.
“The success or failure of this constitutional review will ultimately be determined not here in Abuja, but in the 36 state assemblies across the federation. You are the gatekeepers of constitutional reform, and history will judge us all by the actions we take in the coming weeks.”
He stated that after retreat, the parliament would move from deliberation to taking decisive actions on all the constitution alteration bills before the National Assembly. “The entire nation comprising over 200 million Nigerians, anticipate direction from this Assembly. Our people yearn for reforms that devolve power and bring governance closer to the grassroots, vocalise internal security through innovative approaches, like state police, empower their voices through credible elections, ensure fiscal federalism and equitable resource distribution, protect the rights and dignity of every citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, guarantee local government autonomy so that development reaches the last community.
“The amendments we agree upon today will shape Nigeria’s democracy for generations to come. Permit me also to inform this distinguished gathering that, in keeping without commitment to intergovernmental partnership, all Governors of the Federation will be formally briefed tomorrow, November 26.
“The Constitution we seek to refine is the soul of our Republic, the expression of our common destiny, the framework upon which the hopes and dreams of every Nigerian rest. Let the work we do here in Abuja reflect our shared commitment to a Nigeria that works for all. “
