The first draft report of the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution, according to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, will be ready in August 2025, along with the final clean copy for presidential assent following voting on the anticipated issues of concern by the two chambers of the national assembly.
Kalu shared the update at a news conference held on Thursday by the House Committee on Constitution Review.
Allnews.ng understands that the committee announced a 24-month deadline for the exercise's completion during its inauguration on Monday in Abuja.
Kalu, who is the committee chairman, made the following statement during the news conference: "We are working hard to make sure that the first draft of the work we are trying to accomplish on the constitution will be available in no time at all through our activities.
"This will be subject to approval of the work done by the subcommittee. Let me mention that our target, the first draft of the constitution will be out in August 2024.
"The second draft will be out in October 2024, we will commence zonal inputs from October 2024, and we’ll keep collecting inputs from citizens from 14th October 2024 as we prepare for the last version or that last draft copy of the constitution.
"We are hoping that there will be a harmonization of the issues, on the 27th, and 28th of February 2025.
"We are hoping that during a technical working retreat that will take place in February 2025, the Senate and the House of Representatives documents will be harmonized.
"It is our desire that on the 17th of March 2025, we will have harmonized documents considered in the House. It is our belief that by April 2025, we will have the final copies of draft amendments produced.
"We are optimistic also that by 12th May 2025, we’ll have, the final clean copy of amendments bills agreed on. And we are looking at 22nd May 2025, as a time when we will have the final report laid for consideration and voting.
"This is to say that members will be voting on the work we have done on this important date of 22nd May 2025.
"We are believing that around the 29th of May or 13th of June knowing fully well what these important dates mean to Nigerians, we will expect the final concurrence of state assemblies secured.
"If it delays more than that, it will not go beyond August of 2025 because we believe that by August 2025, the president will receive the bills that will be presented to him for presidential assent. So, our target is that the transmission of bills to Mr President for assent will take place in August 2025.
"And with this, we are sure that our target to get this job done in 24 months will be achieved if we send it Mr President by August 2025 and hope that by December we will have a constitution that’s fully amended. Thank you very our guests and honourable colleagues".
To support the committee's work, the Deputy Speaker additionally requested memoranda be submitted from various interest groups, labour unions, civil society organisations (CSOs), pertinent governmental organisations, and members of the general public.
Chapter 2 of the constitution's socio-economic and cultural rights, as well as traditional institutions, were among the thematic areas he listed.
These included the federal structure and power devolution, local government autonomy, public revenue, fiscal federation, and revenue allocation, the Nigerian police and security architecture, comprehensive judicial reforms, and electoral reforms aimed at strengthening INEC's ability to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections.
Gender issues were among them, as was bolstering the independence of oversight bodies and organisations established by the National Assembly or under the constitution. Provisions pertaining to residency and indigenous people; immunity; the National Assembly; the establishment of states; and state access to mining.
"In exercise of the powers conferred on the Legislature by Sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) and Order 20, Rule 30 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (11th Edition) and the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, I am pleased to invite the Executive and Judicial bodies, State Governments, Women Groups, Academics, Civil Society Organizations, Labour Unions, Professional bodies, Ethnic Nationalities, Nigerians in the Diaspora, Diplomats and the general public, to submit memoranda or proposals for further alteration(s) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the following thematic areas: The Federal Structure and Power Devolution; Local Government/Local Government Autonomy; Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation; Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Architecture; Comprehensive Judicial Reforms; Electoral Reforms to strengthen INEC to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections; Socio-economic and cultural rights as contained in Chapter 2 of the constitution; Traditional Institutions; Issues of Gender; Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies created by the constitution or pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly; Residency and Indigene Provisions; Immunity; The National Assembly; Process of state creation; State access to mining", he said.
Memoranda on "any other matter that will promote good governance and the welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice" were also welcome, according to the committee.
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