The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has stated that the ongoing constitution review by the 10th National Assembly will focus on key national-interest areas, including local government autonomy, women’s political participation, judicial reform, and citizenship provisions.
Kalu explained that the review process would cover 13 broad thematic areas and 86 constitutional provisions. The National Assembly, he said, aims to strengthen governance, promote inclusiveness, and address long-standing structural imbalances within the federation.
He added that the legislature is working to ensure that public opinion guides the process through hearings and consultations across the six geopolitical zones. This, he noted, would allow the review to reflect the collective aspirations of over 250 million Nigerians.
According to him, the legislature is committed to reinforcing the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy through laws that promote accountability, transparency, and public confidence. He stressed that the reforms will address misconceptions about the roles of lawmakers, particularly in relation to local governance issues that fall outside federal legislative responsibility.
The Deputy Speaker also revealed that the review would explore new measures to enhance leadership, improve electoral processes, and strengthen state institutions. The review committees of both the Senate and the House are expected to collaborate to harmonise proposals before the final presentation.
Stakeholders believe the review, if completed successfully, could lead to one of the most comprehensive constitutional updates since 1999, reshaping Nigeria’s political structure and governance framework.
