By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate will commence a two-day public hearing in Lagos today as part of its ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The South-west zonal hearing will be held at the WaterCrest Hotel in Ikeja.
The event is designed to gather input from stakeholders on a wide range of constitutional proposals.
Topping the agenda are the creation of a state police force, far-reaching electoral reforms, and the proposed establishment of 18 new local government areas across the country.
Similar hearings are currently being held across the other geopolitical zones, except the North-west.
Proceedings in that zone were temporarily suspended following the death of prominent Kano businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata.
Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the South-west Zonal Constitution Review Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the schedule for the Lagos hearing in a statement issued Thursday.
He emphasised the importance of inclusive participation in shaping reforms that reflect the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
The Constitution Review Committee, which was inaugurated on February 14, 2024, comprises 45 members and is chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, with Bamidele serving as Vice Chairman.
According to Bamidele, the committee has received numerous memoranda addressing critical areas, including internal security, judicial reforms, local government autonomy, fiscal federalism, and the role of traditional institutions in governance.
One of the prominent proposals is a bill advocating the creation of state police and other state-level security agencies aimed at decentralising policing and improving internal security.
Another bill seeks to establish a State Security Council in each state to advise governors on matters of safety and security.
Further amendments being considered include the devolution of powers in labour, industrial relations, and minimum wage from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List.
It will grant both federal and state governments legislative authority in those areas.
There are also proposals to place the management of inland waterways on the Concurrent List to enhance regulatory coordination.
In a move to improve democratic representation, one proposal recommends that every local government area have at least one representative in the State House of Assembly.
Bamidele stated that this would help ensure all communities are fairly represented in the legislative process.
On electoral reforms, the committee has received proposals supporting independent candidacy and the inclusion of Nigerians in the diaspora in future elections.
Additional submissions include calls for enhanced fiscal responsibility—such as reducing the period during which a president or governor can authorise spending without an Appropriation Act from six months to three.
Revisions to the current derivation formula are also on the table, with proposals seeking a broader definition of revenue sources generated within states.
There are also recommendations to strengthen internal dispute resolution mechanisms within political parties, which could reduce the caseload on the judiciary during pre-election periods.
Regarding the creation of local governments, Bamidele revealed that the Senate had received 18 separate requests, broken down as follows: seven from the North-west, five from the North Central, one from the Northeast, three from the South-South, and one each from the South-East and South-West.
Additionally, the Senate has received 32 requests for the creation of new states—six from the North-west, eight from the North Central, five from the South-east, six from the Northeast, six from the South-South, and four from the South-West.
Senator Bamidele reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and participatory review process.
He called on stakeholders in the south-west to take full advantage of the Lagos hearing to make meaningful contributions to the constitutional review.
“This hearing presents a vital opportunity for Nigerians in the South-west to shape constitutional reforms that truly reflect the values and future they envision,” he stated.
