Reps’ constitution review panel moves to secure state buy-in for amendments

The Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives has launched a series of consultations with governors, speakers of State Assemblies, and other critical stakeholders as part of efforts to build a broad consensus around proposed constitutional amendments.

Chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, disclosed this during a panel meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he unveiled a revised work plan and engagement timeline aimed at ensuring the successful passage of the amendment bills by December 2025.

A key part of the strategy is a scheduled meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on July 23, during which the committee will present the draft bills and seek the support of the governors for their passage by state legislatures.

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The committee is also organising a joint retreat involving members of the Senate and House Constitution Review Committees and speakers of the 36 State Assemblies. The retreat, according to Kalu, is intended to harmonise legislative positions and foster alignment across federal and sub-national tiers.

So far, 87 priority amendment bills have passed second reading in the House. Kalu said the goal is to ensure these reforms do not stall at the state level due to lack of understanding or buy-in.

Beyond the political class, the committee has lined up engagements with media executives—including the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON)—as well as civil society groups and members of the diplomatic community.

The committee will also meet with leaders of the 18 registered political parties to solicit bipartisan support for key amendments, Kalu disclosed. He emphasised that the committee’s ultimate goal is to deliver a people-oriented constitution that addresses long-standing governance challenges, while strengthening Nigeria’s federal structure.