CONSTITUTION REVIEW: ZONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS KICK OFF NEXT MONTH – DEPUTY SPEAKER
20-06-25
By Sadiq Aminu House of Representatives is set to conduct public hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones next month.
Speaking at the joint session of consultants and the secretaries of the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees in Abuja, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Review, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, explained that the Zonal Public hearings are aimed at gathering inputs from citizens on proposed constitutional amendments.
Mr. Kalu who highlighted the timeline of the zonal public hearings, noted that the hearings will take place in two phases.
He said that the first phase will cover the northern geopolitical zones, scheduled to hold from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Mr. Kalu said that in the North Central region, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger states will converge on Mina center, while Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue states, and the Federal Capital Territory will meet at the Lafia center.
In the North West, he said that Kaduna will serve as a center for Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, while Sokoto will host stakeholders from Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
Moving to the North East, Gombe will be the hub for Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba states, and Maiduguri will cater to Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Similarly, the second phase will cover the southern geopolitical zones, holding from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20, 2025.
In the South South region, Bayelsa, Edo, and Delta states will participate at the Yenegoa center, while Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states will engage at the Calabar center.
For South East, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states will gather at the Enugu center, and Imo and Abia states will meet at the Owerri center.
For the South West, Lagos will host stakeholders from Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states, while Akure will serve Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states.
Mr. Kalu said that through the public hearings, the committee aims to ensure that the voices of all Nigerians are heard and their concerns addressed in the constitutional review process.
The Deputy Speaker further stated that the committee is prioritizing amendment bills on gender bills and inclusive governance, security and police reforms, fiscal reforms, judicial reforms and devolution of powers.
