Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s support for constitutional reforms tailored for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, stated this while declaring open a Public Hearing on the Review of 1999 Constitution in Abuja. Tinubu described the process as a ‘golden opportunity’ to entrench good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the President commended the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, for aligning the review with his Renewed Hope Agenda. He praised the committee for facilitating an inclusive platform that engages citizens, civil society, political parties, professional groups, and traditional institutions.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, echoed his commitment to participatory governance and inclusiveness. He lauded the Rep. Benjamin Kalu-led House Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review for their diligence and exemplary efforts. Tajudeen emphasized the importance of a people-driven process, highlighting the publication of the Summarised Compendium of Bills, online feedback portals, open invitations for memoranda, and the active participation in zonal sessions.
Tajudeen noted that Nigerians are weary of prolonged constitutional reforms that lose momentum and public trust. He stressed that reform delayed is reform denied, and Nigerians deserve clarity and closure. The proposals before them cover a broad range of themes, addressing the diversity and complexity of the Nigerian federation. Among these, he highlighted transformative amendments under inclusive governance, with a particular focus on gender inclusion.
He pointed out that currently, women hold less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly, a statistic he deemed unacceptable for the nation’s size and ambition. The proposed reserved seats for women aim to ensure that every state and senatorial district has female representation in lawmaking. Tajudeen clarified that this is not tokenism but a constitutional mechanism to accelerate gender inclusion until structural barriers are dismantled.
Additionally, provisions for representation of persons with disabilities at all government levels recognize their right to participate fully in shaping laws that affect their lives. An amendment also mandates a minimum threshold of women in ministerial appointments to ensure gender balance. Tajudeen emphasized that these measures would make Nigeria’s democracy more representative, policies more responsive, and the country more equitable.
He also highlighted the importance of recognizing traditional institutions as stabilizers in their communities, mediators in conflict, and custodians of culture. Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu underscored the need for devolution of powers, proposing state and community policing as a landmark change. Kalu advocated for local government autonomy to ensure financial and administrative independence for grassroots governance, stressing that the proposals stemmed from citizens’ demands rather than legislative impositions.