By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives is set to meet with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on July 23, 2025, to present bills currently under consideration and seek their support for passage.
The Committee will also meet with the Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly in a joint retreat with Senate Constitution Review members to harmonize bills and ensure consistency across the country.
The House Committee has slated an engagement with media executives, including the Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Nigerian Broadcasters Association (NBN); the civil society organizations and the diplomatic community, amongst others, to facilitate public discussions and education on constitutional issues, promoting transparency and accountability in the review process.
The meetings are part of the Committee’s efforts to ensure the successful passage of key bills by December 2025.
The Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman, Constitution Review Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu made the disclosures while unveiling a detailed timeline of activities at a meeting of the panel on Wednesday, held at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He said, “We urge members to work assiduously to ensure that the current Bills before the Committee are passed by December 2025 while also considering the possibility of a second round of amendments, as members are still sponsoring new Bills.
“Steady progress is being made on our work plan implementation, and our targets are achievable. However, some crucial activities should be accomplished within the given timeframe.
“The second meeting/engagement with the Nigerian Governors Forum is expected to be held on July 23, 2025, to present to them the Bills currently under consideration as requested during the previous engagement, seek their support on the proposed amendments, secure buy-in and backing for the passage of contentious bills.
“Joint Retreat of Senate and House Constitution Review Members with Speakers/Clerks of the 36 State Houses of Assembly to harmonize Bills will be held Thursday, 25th – Sunday, September 28, 2025.
“There will be a Constitution Review Committee Diplomatic Dinner (June 20, 2025) to seek support and collaboration from the diplomatic community on some specific thematic areas like gender, security architecture and state policing to promote global best practices.
“There will also be an engagement with Civil Society Organizations and community-based organisations as part of National Assembly Open Week (Thursday, July 3, 2025, NASS Complex; Abuja)
“The engagement will bring expertise and alternative perspectives to the constitutional review process, helping to shape our legislative decisions by highlighting deficiencies and proposing further debates.
“It will also promote transparency, accountability and inclusivity in the processes by ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and engaged.
“Engagement with Media Executives (Guild of Editors, NUJ, NBAN, etc.) will be held on Tuesday, 8th, or Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Abuja to facilitate public discussions, debates, and education on constitutional issues, helping to build consensus and foster a sense of ownership among citizens.
“The media can play a vital role in ensuring the constitution review process is inclusive, transparent, and the public is well-informed.”
Kalu also provided a timeline for the anticipated public and national hearings on the bills, as well as a meeting with the 18 registered political parties in the country, stating that the goal is ultimately to aggregate the views of Nigerians.
“As discussed in our previous meetings, the Committee is poised to subject the 87 prioritized Bills that have passed second reading to Public Hearings in each of the six geopolitical zones.
“Zonal Chairmen and their Deputies are expected to liaise with States under their jurisdictions to ensure active participation in their respective zones.
“The hearings will be held as follows: Northern Geopolitical Zones – Friday 11th to Sunday 13th, July 2025; Southern Geopolitical Zones – Friday 18th to 20th July 2025
“National Public Hearing – Monday, July 21, 2025. Engagement with Nigeria Political Parties (18 Registered Political Parties Leadership) is expected to be held on Monday, July 14, 2025, in Abuja”, he said.
The Deputy Speaker also stated that the House will hold a one-week plenary debate on the bills, with voting expected to take place on October 14, 2025. Additionally, transmission of the bills to the State Assembly is anticipated to occur on October 30, 2025.
“One-week plenary debate on the Constitution Review Bills to familiarize members with their contents in preparation for the voting is expected to be held on Tuesday, 7th- Thursday, October 9 2025.
“Voting in the Plenary – Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The Secretariat Retreat to Produce Clean Copy – Thursday 16th – Sunday, October 19, 2025, while transmission to States: (at a ceremony in Transcorp with the leadership of the Constitution Review Committee of the House and Senate with Speakers/Clerks of the state Houses of Assembly) is expected to hold on Thursday, October 30 2025”, Kalu said.
