The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who chairs the Senate committee reviewing the 1999 Constitution, has announced that the final draft of the ongoing constitutional amendment will be forwarded to the State Houses of Assembly for ratification before the end of the year.
Speaking through the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, at the conclusion of a two-day southwest zonal public hearing in Lagos on Saturday, Barawu said the region’s dominant concerns; state creation, state policing, local government autonomy, judicial reform, electoral adjustments, and women’s special seats were all strongly echoed during the discussions.
Barawu emphasized that the public hearing was not merely a formality but a “constitutional requirement to ensure that the people have a say in the preparation of a document that governs them.”
He stressed that the review should be taken seriously, as it aims to “redefine good governance and strengthen the country’s democracy.”
He highlighted previous successes achieved under similar amendments, noting that “some issues which were hitherto in exclusive list were taken to concurrent list for the state government to oversee.”
He further pointed out that “electoral reforms … have begun to make Nigerians’ votes count.”
Barawu explained the process: “The essence of what we have done within these two days is to give Nigerians the chance to participate so that their elected representatives will not sit in Abuja and begin to tamper with the constitution.”
He added, “Our founding fathers … made it so difficult for anyone to just wake up and begin to tamper with the constitution, that’s why we are going through all these processes.”
He continued, “Even after the National Assembly would have done its job, we still need the support of 2/3 of the State House of Assembly before it could become an amendment.”
Barawu reaffirmed that real change would come: “We have heard Nigerians very loud and clear, and we are going to Abuja to file our report and conclude this process.”
He pledged, “Before the end of the year, a final notification as a proposal will be sent to the State House of Assembly so that we can round up the process without further delay.”
He urged stakeholders to “carry along the elected representatives so as to be on the same page and not be working at cross purposes.”
He also praised the state lawmakers for aligning with the National Assembly’s vision and encouraged them to exercise due diligence during ratification.
At the hearing, the Southwest Speakers’ Conference affirmed its support for the region’s demands.
Ogun State Speaker Daisi Elemide remarked, “We stand by autonomy for the Legislature… and we stand in support of the state police… we also stand in support of the state police, too.”
He added that traditional rulers’ constitutional roles and reserved seats for women embodied in the “He for She” initiative would also be advocated.
Representing labor interests, Nigeria Labour Congress (Lagos State) Chairperson Agness Funmi Sesse warned, “The removal of Labour provision from the exclusive to the concurrent will allow many state governments … we can then begin to imagine if the labour provisions are now made part of the concurrent list.” She vowed that “Nigeria workers … are prepared to resist this internal colonialism with the last drop of our blood.”
On legal reform, NBA representative Dr. Babatunde Olatunji, SAN, argued that judicial appointments need clearer rules.
He insisted that current provisions allowing a lawyer admitted for 10 years to become a judge are “too weak and subject to manipulation” and cautioned that “if the process for the appointment of judicial officers is not right, the Judiciary will also not be able to perform up to expectations.”
Other proposals included the creation of new states; Oke Ogun State (with Agunrege as capital) and “New Oyo State” (with Ogbomosho as capital) presented by professionals and stakeholders from youth and women’s groups.
