President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s strong support for constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at a Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja, President Tinubu described the process as a “golden opportunity” to entrench good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is not static, but a living document that must continually respond to the realities, aspirations and challenges of our people,” the President stated. He commended the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review for its work, calling the process compliant with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
House of Representatives Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, affirmed the House’s commitment to participatory governance, commending the committee for making the amendment process a “listening exercise before it becomes a legislative one.” He stressed the urgent need to conclude the process, warning that “reform delayed is reform denied.”
Tajudeen highlighted key themes in the proposed amendments, with a strong focus on inclusive governance.
He decried the low representation of women, who currently hold less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly, calling the statistic “unacceptable.”
Proposals aiming to address this include creating additional seats in the National Assembly and State Assemblies to ensure women’s voices in lawmaking, requiring a minimum threshold of women in ministerial appointments, and ensuring representation for persons with disabilities at all levels.
Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, emphasized critical proposals focused on devolution of powers.
These include landmark measures to allow for state and community policing and to grant financial and administrative independence to local government areas, underscoring local government autonomy.
Kalu stressed that all proposals are derived directly from citizens’ demands, affirming that the “ultimate authority for this process resides with you, the sovereign people of Nigeria.”
