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, Barau 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.
Barau 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.”
Barau 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.”
Barau 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.
