The National Assembly is moving into a decisive phase of the ongoing constitution review process, as preparations are now underway for a national public hearing to be held 22 September 2022 on the wide-ranging constitutional alteration bills. This comes on the heels of the zonal hearings convened by both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Constitution Review across the six geopolitical zones, which held in July 2025.
At those zonal hearings, stakeholders from diverse constituencies, ranging from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, women’s groups, traditional rulers, and the security sector to professional associations and civil society, deliberated on an extensive suite of proposals. The bills, structured along thirteen thematic areas, were distilled from memoranda and engagements with Nigerians and capture some of the most pressing governance questions facing the country.
The issues on the table are wide-ranging. Electoral reforms seek to streamline processes through single-day general elections, independent candidacy, the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission, and a Political Parties Regulatory Commission. In the judiciary, proposals include establishing local government election tribunals, strengthening independence, and addressing systemic delays. Security and policing reforms, particularly the proposal for state police, have attracted significant attention given Nigeria’s security realities. Inclusive governance measures also feature prominently, most prominently, the Special Seats Bill, a bill proposing reserved legislative seats for women in the legislature. Other themes address fiscal transparency, human rights (including the explicit definition of torture and prohibition of parading suspects), devolution of powers, recognition of traditional institutions, and even questions of state and local government creation.
Following the upcoming national public hearing, the Committees will consolidate their reports and present them to their respective chambers. Both Houses are expected to vote on the alteration bills by November, transmit them to State Houses of Assembly in December for concurrence, and conclude the process with presidential assent in January. If this timeline holds, it would mark one of the most accelerated and structured constitution review exercises since 1999.
Constitutional amendment in Nigeria requires not just two-thirds support in the National Assembly but also approval by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Beyond the numbers, the real test will be whether lawmakers can rise above political interests to deliver reforms that strengthen the democratic framework and restore citizens’ confidence in governance.