From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The first draft of proposed alterations to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) would be ready in August, 2024.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, who made the disclosure, said the second draft of the proposed alterations would be ready in October. He explained that the target of the parliament is to send proposed amendments to the Constitution to the President for his assent in August 2025.
Kalu stated that the committee would focus on issues relating to the devolution of power, local government autonomy, judicial reforms , traditional institutions, state creation, gender issues amongst others.
Consequently, the deputy speaker stated that committee expects stakeholders to make submissions to it on the focal issue amongst others.
“Let me mention that our target, the first draft of the constitution will be out in August 2024 Second draft will be out in October 2024, we will commence zonal inputs from October 2024, we’ll keep collecting inputs from citizens from 14th October 2024 as we prepare for the last version or that last draft copy of the constitution.
“We are hoping that there will be a harmonization of the issues, on the 27th, 28th February 2025…We are optimistic also that by 12th May 2025, we’ll have, the final clean copy of amendments bills agreed on. And we are looking at 22nd May 2025, as a time when we will have final report laid for consideration and voting.
“This is to say that members will be voting on the work we have done on this important date of 22nd May 2025. We are believing that around the 29th of May or 13th of June knowing fully well what these important dates mean to Nigerians, we will expect the final concurrence of state assemblies secured.
“If it delays more than that, it will not go beyond August of 2025 because we believe that by August 2025, the president will receive the bills that will be presented to him for presidential assent. So, our targets that transmission of bills to Mr President for assent will take place August 2025.
“And with this, we are sure that our target to get this job done in 24 months will be achieved if we send it Mr President by August 2025 and hoping that by December we will have a constitution that’s fully amended,”Kalu stated.
While reiterating the desire of the committee to complete the constitution review exercise within 24 months, he said the parliament remain committed to issues that will promote good governance and the welfare of Nigerians.”
The Committee called for proposals from the general public for further alteration of the 1999 Constitution.
Kalu said the call was in exercise of the powers conferred on the Legislature by Sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Constitution.
He said that Order 20, Rule 30 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (11th Edition) and the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House also empowered the committee.
Kalu said that memoranda on any matter that would promote good governance and the welfare of all persons in the country on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice were welcomed.
The deputy speaker said the thematic areas included federal structure, power devolution, local government autonomy, public revenue, fiscal federation, and revenue allocation.
Others areas include Nigeria police, security architecture, judicial reforms, electoral reforms to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections, socio-economic and cultural rights, residency and indigene provisions, traditional institutions, issues of gender among others.
He said that five hard copies of all proposals should be submitted to the secretariat of the committee in Room H331, House of Representatives White House, National Assembly Complex in Abuja, not later than April 10, 2024.
He said that soft copies should also be sent electronically to the committee’s email address – [email protected]
“I am pleased to invite the executive and judiciary, state governments, women groups, academics, civil society organisations, labour unions, professional bodies, ethnic nationalities to submit memoranda.
“I invite Nigerians in the diaspora, diplomats and the general public, to submit memoranda or proposals for further alteration(s) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he said.