The National Assembly has confirmed that the final draft of its constitutional review on the 1999 Constitution will be transmitted to all 36 state legislatures before December 2025 . This timeline aligns with the established schedule for the exercise, following extensive zonal public hearings across the six geopolitical zones.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader and head of the Senate’s Constitution Review Committee, revealed this at the close of a two-day hearing in Ikeja, Lagos. He stated that the committee has completed its public consultations and is preparing to finalise the report in Abuja, ahead of the transmission deadline.
Among the key themes raised during the hearings were devolving powers, granting greater autonomy to local governments, establishing state policing units, and the possible creation of new states. These have been recurring topics since constitutional amendment debates began in 1999.
Senator Bamidele emphasized that no constitutional change can take effect without the approval of at least two-thirds of state assemblies. He urged citizens, interest groups, and all stakeholders to lobby their state representatives to ensure their voices are heard and their desires included.
Representatives at the hearing—including key senators and chairpersons of various Senate committees—were joined by Deputy Speaker Abiodun Fadeyi, representing the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures. Fadeyi echoed calls for expanded state and local government powers, endorsement of state police, and clearer oversight frameworks to avoid misuse of authority . He highlighted that responsible guidelines should accompany any new police structure to ensure accountability and intergovernmental cooperation.
In conclusion, the National Assembly underscores that while the federal parliament is spearheading the constitutional review, the active engagement of state houses of assembly is pivotal to seeing any proposed amendments through to legal reality.
