The Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives will, on 23 July 2025, meet with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to present bills under consideration and solicit their support for their eventual passage.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Mr Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the committee.
At a meeting held at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Kalu unveiled a comprehensive activity timeline and urged committee members to work diligently towards passing the current batch of constitution amendment bills by December. He also hinted at the possibility of a second phase of amendments, as new bills continue to emerge from members.
“We are making steady progress on our implementation plan, and our goals are within reach. However, we must remain focused on key engagements within the given timeframe,” he said.
The upcoming meeting with the NGF, he noted, is a follow-up to earlier discussions and will be used to present the proposed amendments, secure buy-in, and build consensus on more contentious provisions.
Also scheduled is a joint retreat of Senate and House constitution review members with Speakers and Clerks of the 36 State Houses of Assembly from 25 to 28 September. The aim is to harmonise bills and align efforts across federal and state legislatures.
As part of wider stakeholder engagement, the committee will host a diplomatic dinner on 20 June to seek international collaboration on thematic issues such as gender inclusion, national security, and state policing.
An interactive session with civil society and community-based organisations is also planned for 3 July, as part of the National Assembly’s Open Week. According to Mr Kalu, this engagement is aimed at promoting transparency, inclusivity, and incorporating expert and grassroots perspectives into the constitutional amendment process.
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Further engagements are scheduled with media executives including the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NUJ, and NBAN on 8 or 9 July in Abuja to mobilise public awareness and foster informed public debate on the proposed amendments.
Additionally, the committee plans to meet with the Nigerian Broadcasters Association, civil society groups, and the diplomatic community in ongoing efforts to ensure an inclusive and transparent process.
Highlighting the importance of public input, Kalu revealed that public hearings on the 87 prioritised bills will be held across the six geopolitical zones from 11 to 20 July, followed by a national public hearing on 21 July. Leadership of all 18 registered political parties will also be engaged on 14 July in Abuja to solicit their views.
He further stated that a one-week plenary debate on the bills is scheduled for 7 to 9 October to familiarise members with their contents, ahead of voting on 14 October. A retreat of the Secretariat to finalise the clean version of the bills will follow from 16 to 19 October.
The formal transmission of the bills to the state legislatures is planned for 30 October at a ceremony involving committee and Senate leadership alongside Speakers and Clerks of State Assemblies.
Kalu stressed that all these engagements are geared towards building consensus and ensuring the successful passage of vital constitutional amendments before the year ends.
