State Police, Council autonomy and special seats for women are all at the top of the eighty-seven Constitution amendment Bills being proposed by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution review.
Also being considered are “extensive electoral reforms, including proposals for independent candidacy, the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, and a fixed timeline for the determination of pre-election matters to ensure that the will of the people is never again subverted by legal technicalities”.
This was made known yesterday at a one-day public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution review by the panel in Abuja.
Some other issues are Electoral and Judicial reforms, devolution of powers, strengthening of public and traditional Institutions, as well as citizenship and Indigeneship.
While the bill for state and community policing seeks the establishment of state and community police systems, that of women and People Living with disabilities (PLWDs) proposes constitutionally guaranteed seats for women and persons with disabilities in the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly.
The sponsors of the bill for financial and administrative independence for local governments are seeking to enhance the autonomy of the third tier of government via a structured system of Executive and Legislative arms.
This will be in line with Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 councils.
The House of Representatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and state Assembly Speakers said much is expected of the committee.
For the review to be meaningful, they also said that the plan should deepen democracy and ensure equity and justice.
At the forum, traditional rulers, who renewed their agitations for a constitutional role, clarified that the motive is not to hijack the function of elected leaders, but to serve as a bridge between the government and the governed.
Representatives of women group also reiterated their demand for increased representation in the parliament and executive councils across the tiers.
The Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, clarified that the bills being considered are still proposals before the National Assembly.
The public hearing held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, which was billed to start at about 10 am did not start until about 11.30 as the organisers struggled to control the crowd.
‘We are committed to constitutional reforms’
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, reiterated his commitment to the constitutional reform that would strengthen the institutions.
