The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, has announced the schedule for a series of public hearings aimed at gathering input from Nigerians on proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Kalu revealed that the Committee will hold zonal public hearings in 12 centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country, as well as a national public hearing in Abuja.
According to him, the public hearings in the northern zones will take place from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13, while those in the southern zones will be held from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20. The national public hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025.
“These hearings are designed to provide an open platform for citizens, civil society organizations, professional bodies, traditional institutions, and other interest groups to express their views and contribute meaningfully to the constitutional reform process,” Kalu said.
He disclosed that the Committee will present 86 constitution review bills currently before the House in the form of a summarized compendium. This compendium includes explanatory memoranda, long titles, and detailed overviews of each bill, making it easier for the public to understand the legislative proposals and offer informed feedback.
Kalu explained that the bills, sponsored by various lawmakers, are targeted at addressing key developmental and governance challenges in Nigeria. He added that the compendium is organized along 13 thematic areas:
- Electoral Reforms
- Judicial Reforms
- Legislature
- Inclusive Governance
- Security and Policing
- Devolution of Powers
- Strengthening of Institutions
- Traditional Institutions
- Fiscal Reforms
- Citizenship and Indigeneship
- Fundamental Human Rights
- Local Government Reform
- Creation of States and Local Governments
“The compendium will serve as a reference for stakeholders during the public hearings and allow for critical engagement. It will also provide feedback to members of the public who earlier submitted memoranda, showing how their views have been reflected in the proposals,” he added.
Kalu called on all Nigerians to participate actively in the hearings, noting that inclusive engagement is essential to creating a constitution that reflects the will of the people.
“Your contributions and inputs are crucial to the success of this constitutional review process. I encourage everyone to download the summarized compendium of the bills from www.hccr.gov.ng, review the proposals, and provide feedback during the hearings,” the Deputy Speaker said.
The Committee is expected to release the list of zonal hearing centres along with the names of chairmen, deputies, and consultants overseeing the process in each zone.
