By Mercy Gadia Adi
The House of Representatives has announced plans to hold public hearings on 86 Constitution Review Bills currently under consideration.
The bills, which are aimed at addressing various developmental challenges affecting governance practices in Nigeria, will be presented to the general public in a compressed compendium consisting of explanatory memoranda, long titles, and comprehensive expositions of the bills.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kalu, who doubles as Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, made the announcement while addressing Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja. According to him, the public 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.
The public hearings will be held in 12 centers across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The hearings will take place from July 11 to 13, 2025, in the North, and from July 18 to 20, 2025, in the South. A national public hearing will also be held on July 21, 2025. Hon. Kalu encouraged members of the public to download the compendium, review the proposed bills, and provide feedback to inform the legislative process.
“We are committed to ensuring broader participation by Nigerians and other critical stakeholders in the ongoing process of amending the Constitution,” Hon. Kalu said. “We will be embarking on zonal public hearings in 12 centers across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. These hearings are designed to provide an open platform for citizens to express their views and contribute meaningfully to the constitutional reform process.”
The compendium of bills includes proposals for the creation of new states and local government councils. According to reports, no fewer than 46 states and 117 local government councils creation bills are currently before the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review. The proposed bills are part of the 86 Constitution Review Bills currently under consideration.
Hon. Kalu emphasized the importance of public engagement in the legislative process. “If you leave that out of the door, then you are making laws for yourself, not for the people,” he said.
“We are taking this journey from the time we advertised for memoranda. And you know, we called the public to say what they think.”
The House of Representatives has taken steps to ensure effective participation of Nigerians at the grassroots level. Necessary measures have been put in place to engage State Governors and other stakeholders. Hon. Kalu disclosed that the House has received memoranda from representatives of various stakeholders, including grassroots leaders, community leaders, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations.
“We have received memoranda from the representatives of these stakeholders, including the grassroots,” Hon. Kalu said. “Market women, all of them. We have received from drivers. We have received from all walks of life.” The House will also ensure that people who speak the same language are present at the public hearings to interpret the compendium for those who may not understand the language used.
The public hearings are expected to provide a platform for citizens to contribute to the constitutional reform process. Hon. Kalu encouraged members of the public to participate actively in the hearings and provide feedback on the proposed bills. “Your contributions and inputs are crucial to the success of this constitutional review process,” he said.
Hon. Kalu encouraged the members of the public to download the compendium, review the proposed bills, and provide feedback to inform the legislative process.
“In conclusion, I call on all stakeholders and the general public to actively participate in the zonal and national public hearings. Your contributions and inputs are crucial to the success of this constitutional review process.
We encourage you to download the summarized compendium of the bills from www.hccr.gov.ng review the proposals, and provide your feedback during the hearings. Together, we can create a more inclusive and effective constitution that reflects the aspirations of our great nation,” the Deputy Speaker said.