Abuja, Nigeria:The House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee has announced plans to engage key national stakeholders, including the Nigerian Governors Forum and media executives, as part of efforts to ensure the successful passage of proposed constitutional amendments by December 2025.
Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, made this known while presenting a timeline of activities during a panel meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja. He said the outreach is designed to build consensus and foster transparency throughout the constitutional review process.
According to Kalu, the committee will hold a second consultative meeting with the Nigerian Governors Forum on July 23, 2025, to present bills currently under review and seek the governors’ support for their passage. “This engagement is critical for securing political backing, particularly for contentious provisions,” he noted.
In a bid to harmonise legislative positions, a joint retreat involving the Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and members of the Senate Constitution Review Committee is also planned. The goal is to align state-level input with national efforts and ensure uniformity in proposed amendments.
Beyond political stakeholders, the committee will engage media leaders—including the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Nigerian Broadcasters Association (NBN)—alongside civil society organisations and members of the diplomatic community. These engagements aim to promote civic education, enhance public participation, and uphold accountability in the reform process.
Kalu stressed the importance of sustained commitment from lawmakers, noting that a one-week plenary debate on the proposed amendments will be held before a scheduled vote in October 2025. Once approved, the bills will be transmitted to state legislatures for ratification.
“We are making steady progress in implementing our work plan,” the Deputy Speaker affirmed. “We must remain focused to meet our December 2025 target, while keeping the door open for further amendments as new bills continue to emerge.”
Additional plans include national and public hearings, as well as consultations with all 18 registered political parties, to aggregate the views of Nigerians and ensure the review reflects broad-based input.
By Taiwo Olatinwo/ May 29,2025
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