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The House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday convened a joint retreat with speakers of state houses of assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital, as Nigeria’s constitution amendment process reached a decisive stage.
The event brought together federal legislators, state houses of assembly presiding officers, and members of the constitution review committees of both chambers.
Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house, and Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, told speakers of state houses of assembly that the fate of the constitution alteration bills now rests largely with the actions of their parliaments.
Kalu, who chairs the house committee on constitution review, said the retreat marked the final stage before voting on the bills begins.
“This is the final retreat before the historic voting on the constitution alteration bills. After today, we move from deliberation to decision. History is watching us,” he said.
“Over 200 million Nigerians anticipate direction from this Assembly. Our people yearn for reforms that devolve power and bring governance closer to the grassroots.”
He said the review process had involved extensive engagements across the country, including three earlier committee retreats and six zonal public hearings, allowing citizens, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth leaders, political parties, and professional bodies to make submissions.
Kalu added that the Lagos retreat in October produced a broad consensus on priority amendments, including empowering local governments, improving elections, strengthening fiscal federalism, and promoting gender inclusion.
He emphasised that section 9 of the Constitution makes state-level approval indispensable.
“No matter how brilliant or how necessary or how popular our amendments may be, they will not become law without the support of at least 24 out of 36 state assemblies. State domestication is the constitutional gateway,” he stated.
Kalu described the constitution under review as “the soul of our Republic”, urging the speakers to return to their states as ambassadors of reform.
“With unity of purpose, we can deliver a constitution that secures Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Barau said the retreat was designed to ensure state assemblies, the “critical and strategic partners”, are fully carried along before bills meeting the constitutional threshold are transmitted to them.
