deliberation on potential amendments to the country's constitution will commence in public forums starting July 11, as announced by the House of Representatives.
Beginning on July 11, 2025, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has unveiled the schedule for zonal public hearings as part of the constitutional amendment process. These hearings, slated to take place across the six geopolitical zones of the country, aim to engage citizens in shaping the nation's legal framework.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Kalu disclosed that the hearings for the northern zones will occur from July 11 to 13, while those for the southern zones will take place from July 18 to 20. A national public hearing is scheduled for July 21. The Deputy Speaker emphasized the significance of participation, encouraging coordination between zonal chairmen, their deputies, and local stakeholders for optimal engagement.
Speaking on the process, Kalu confirmed that the 87 prioritized bills, already passed through a second reading, will be subjected to public hearings in each geopolitical zone. After the hearings, the House will hold a one-week plenary debate on the bills from October 7 to 9, followed by a vote on October 14. The bills will then be transmitted to the state assemblies by October 30, 2025.
To bolster support for the constitutional review, additional engagements are planned. A meeting with political party leaders is slated for July 14, a session with the Nigerian Governors' Forum is set for July 23, and a diplomatic dinner to involve the international community on key issues such as gender equality, security architecture, and state policing is planned for June 20, 2025.
The committee also plans to meet with civil society organizations and community-based groups on July 3, 2025. Engagements with the Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists are scheduled for July 8 to promote conversations, debates, and education on constitutional matters.
Kalu urged members to work diligently to complete the constitutional amendment process and pass the bills by December 2025. This timeline outlines a comprehensive plan for public engagement, consultation with political actors, and legislative processes leading to the potential review and amendment of the 1999 Constitution within the stated period.
- The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has scheduled zonal public hearings from July 11 to 23, 2025, as part of the constitutional amendment process.
- The hearings, spanning across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, aim to involve citizens in shaping the nation's legal framework.
- The hearings for the northern zones will take place from July 11 to 13, while those for the southern zones are scheduled for July 18 to 20.
- A national public hearing is scheduled for July 21, and a meeting with political party leaders, including the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), is planned for July 14.
- Kalu emphasized that the 87 prioritized bills, already passed through a second reading, will be subjected to public hearings in each geopolitical zone.
- The proposed policy-and-legislation changes, including matters related to gender equality, security architecture, and state policing, are aimed to be reviewed and amended in the 1999 Constitution by December 2025.
