Tag: Constitution Review

Referendum call heightens over ‘elitist’ Constitution reform plot

Aminu Imam
Referendum calls on Constitution

Calls for a referendum to birth a truly people-driven Constitution are gaining momentum across Nigeria, with legal experts, regional groups, and civil society accusing political elites of blocking genuine reform. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, described the absence of a referendum clause in the 1999 Constitution as a grave flaw, while groups like Afenifere, PANDEF, and Yoruba Ronu condemned the National Assembly’s ongoing review as a “rehash” of a military-imposed document. Critics argue that the current amendment process—controlled by lawmakers and state assemblies—excludes citizens from shaping the nation’s supreme…

Read More

Ex-NBA president, Olanipekun seeks suspension of 1999 “military” Constitution

Aminu Imam
Olanipekun seeks

…Advocates referendum A legal luminary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has urged the 10th National Assembly to suspend the on-going amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), describing the current document as a “military albatross” that continues to haunt Nigeria. Olanipekun made the call on Monday at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), while delivering the institution’s 13th convocation lecture, titled: ‘Nigeria – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Imperative of a Sober and Definitive Recalibration’. The former Chairman of the Body of Benchers and…

Read More

Constitutional Review: Nigerians demand new deal, State Police, women’s seats, Electoral Reforms top agenda

Aminu Imam
Constitutional Review Nigerians demand

Nigerians on Monday stormed the National Assembly’s public hearing on the 1999 Constitution review, with fiery demands — from state and community-policing to creation of new states, electoral reforms, and reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities. Women’s groups, traditional rulers, civil society, and security agencies all pushed for inclusion, accountability, and stronger federalism. Heated protests broke out, as women demanded guaranteed seats in parliament, while traditional rulers insisted on formal recognition of their roles. The Constitutional review involves 87 amendment bills, with some key areas generating robust debate.…

Read More

Constitutional Review Committee proposes curbing presidential powers, reforming INEC

Aminu Imam
Constitution review

The Constitutional Review Committee of the 10th House of Representatives, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, has unveiled a series of bold amendments to the 1999 Constitution aimed at reducing presidential authority, streamlining elections, and promoting inclusivity in Nigerian governance. A key proposal transfers the power to proclaim the National Assembly from the President to the Clerk of the National Assembly, with a similar provision applying to state legislatures, removing governors’ control over Houses of Assembly.  The committee also seeks to ensure that elected officials with valid Certificates of Return…

Read More

Constitution Review: “No personal agenda”, Barau assures Nigerians

Aminu Imam
Barau assures

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has assured Nigerians that the committee has no personal agenda or preconceived opinions to impose on the people. Senator Barau, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, who made the remark at the commencement of the North-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitution Review held in Kano yesterday, explained that the committee is guided solely by legislative ethics, patriotism, and the collective will of Nigerians. “Members of the committee hold no preconceived opinions to impose upon…

Read More

Constitutional Review: UK Afenifere calls for new Constitution to reflect true federalism

Aminu Imam
Afenifere on constitution

As the Nigeria constitutional review nears its slated December 2025 deadline, the Afenifere Group in the United Kingdom and Europe, otherwise known as UK Afenifere, has called on Nigerians to insist on a new constitution that will reflect true federalism across the country. Recall that the 10th National Assembly had said the constitutional review is necessary due to several Bills submitted before it for consideration. The Bills include: State Creation; Electoral Reforms, Judiciary Overhaul; Local Government Autonomy, and Security Restructuring, notably the establishment of State Police and a State Security…

Read More

‘The Patriots’ to present draft Bill on new Constitution to Tinubu, NASS

Aminu Imam
Patriots to present

The Patriots, in partnership with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), is set to convene the National Summit on the future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy from Tuesday, July 15. This was disclosed yesterday, in a press statement by the Head, Summit Joint Secretariat, Olawale Okunniyi. The Patriots, led by former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, will at the end of the meeting on Thursday, July 17, present the Draft Bill on the New Constitution to President Bola Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly. According to the statement, the…

Read More

Constitution Review: Gov. Sani calls for State Police, fiscal federalism, gender equity

Aminu Imam
Gov. Sani on Constitution Review

Governor Uba Sani, of Kaduna State, has called for bold and transformative amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, highlighting the need for state police, fiscal federalism and gender inclusion as part of his proposal. The Governor, who proposed the North-West zonal public hearing on the constitutional review, which was held in Kaduna yesterday, was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. In his address to stakeholders comprising members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women leaders, Uba Sani described the constitution review as a…

Read More

Constitution review: MURIC demands Sharia Courts, Friday as public holiday in South-West

Aminu Imam
MURIC demands2

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent Islamic human rights organisation, has called for far-reaching constitutional reforms, including the establishment of Sharia Courts across all states in Nigeria’s South-West region and the declaration of Fridays as public holidays in honour of Muslim worship practices. MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Is’haq Akintola, made the demand during the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution. He was represented at the session by a senior figure in the group,  Dr. Jamiu Busari, who delivered the presentation to the…

Read More

South-West demands 5 new states, constitutional roles for monarchs

Aminu Imam
South West demands

Creation of additional five new states, constitutional roles for the traditional rulers as well as creation of additional local governments and listing of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the Lagos State government in 2003 into the constitution were among the top demands of the people of the South-West as moves are ongoing to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This came to the fore on Friday at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Bills to further amend the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos The Deputy Senate President…

Read More