Tag: Constitution Review

Senate begins nationwide public hearings on Constitution Review

Aminu Imam
Senate on public hearings

The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced plans to organise a comprehensive two-day zonal public hearing in the country’s six geo-political zones. The hearings, slated for July 4 and 5, are part of an extensive national consultation process aimed at capturing citizens’ voices on critical issues shaping the future of governance in Nigeria. The committee, chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, said the public hearing which will be held simultaneously in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central)…

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Constitutional Review: House Of Reps. push for Independent Candidacy

Aminu Imam
Reps on Constitution review

The 10th House of Representative has pushed for inclusion of an Independent Candidacy in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Bill, sponsored by the spokesperson for the House and chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, was read the first time at plenary on Thursday. It will soon be listed for second reading. It is titled: “A Bill for an act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as (amended)” to allow for the participation of candidates who…

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Northern, Southern Elders disagree over new Constitution

Aminu Imam
Northern, Southern elders

Northern and Southern elders are divided over calls for a new Nigerian Constitution. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF) advocate for amending the current Constitution, while the Southern groups like PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle-Belt Forum advocate for drafting a new Constitution, arguing that the 1999 Constitution (as amended), imposed by the military, is flawed and hinders true federalism. They believe a new Constitution should address structural imbalances and ensure equity. On the other hand, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in the North, prefers…

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New Constitution: Yakasai cautions Tinubu over ‘The Patriots’ demands for political reforms

Aminu Imam
Tanko Yakasai cautions

…Supports Obasanjo’s position Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has advised President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in handling the proposal for a brand new Nigerian constitution that will be produced by a 109 -member Constituent Assembly and approved through a nationwide referendum. Yakasai, a former presidential adviser in the Second Republic, charged the President to tread carefully, consult widely and think thoroughly on the proposal as any hasty move could plunge the country into chaos and instability. Recall that some members of The Patriots, led by a former Secretary General…

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Constitutional Alteration: ‘6-year single-term presidency not solution to Nigeria’s problems’ – Obasanjo

Aminu Imam
Obasanjo on 6yr term

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says a proposed six-year single-term presidency isn’t the silver bullet to the challenges bedevilling the country. The elder statesman also warned that Nigeria won’t move closer to achieving its dreams unless the leaders and citizens embrace a concept he described as “moral rearmament.” He made this known when he received six members of the House of Representatives at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on Friday, August 9, 2024. Obasanjo noted that the West African giant was sitting on a keg of gunpowder which could blow…

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State-of-the-nation: Christian elders demand new Constitution

Aminu Imam
Christian elders demand

The National Christian Elders Forum, (NCEF), has called for the immediate drafting of a new Constitution for Nigeria, asking the Government to convene a Constitutional Conference to address the country’s political and economic challenges. The demand was articulated in a letter sent to key Government officials, including President Bola Tinubu; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola. The Elders’ Forum, which has as members prominent figures such as Dr. Samuel Danjuma Goni (Chairman), Gen. Zamani Lekwot, (rtd), Prof.…

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Restructuring: “Nigeria needs a new Constitution for progress” – Ayo Adebanjo

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Ayo Adebanjo

A prominent leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s current socio-economic challenges, attributing them to ineffective governance and an outdated Constitution. In a recent interview, Adebanjo criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its lack of sincerity and failure to address the country’s pressing issues, urging for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report as a step towards national reform. Adebanjo highlighted the government’s refusal to meet workers’ demands for a new minimum wage, contrasting it with the high salaries of National…

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NASS disowns ‘Bill seeking Nigeria’s return to regional government’

Aminu Imam
10th NASS on restructuring

…Says “It’s not with us yet” The 10th National Assembly has dissociated itself from a purported draft Bill seeking to return Nigeria to a regional system of government. Nigeria practised the regional system of government after it gained independence in 1960. In 1979, after military rule, Nigeria adopted the presidential system of government and has maintained it to date. Recall that on Friday, the National Assembly distanced itself from the Bill after a document titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with…

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State Of The Union: “1999 Constitution’ll destroy Nigeria, if not discarded” – Iwuanyanwu

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Iwuanyanwu

President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said that 1999 Constitution’ll destroy Nigeria, if not discarded.??In a recent interview with Chief  Iwuanyanwu in Owerri, the Imo State capital, he raised grave concerns about the fate of Nigeria if the current 1999 Constitution is not discarded and replaced. The Ohanaeze President-General emphasised the urgent need for a Constitutional overhaul, stating that the current framework is fundamentally flawed and detrimental to the nation’s future. “We need a system that will give the federating units more powers, so that there will…

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Eminent national leaders  demand new Constitution to reflect true federalism 

Aminu Imam

Eminent national leaders, have demanded for a new Nigerian Constitution that would reflect true federalism and address the problem of the country. The leaders, including former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Afenifere chieftain, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, members of the National Assembly and former governors, said Nigeria has two options in getting a truly federal Constitution by either adopting the recommendations of the 2014 National Confab, or go for a relatively inexpensive directly…

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