Reps Unveil Zonal Dates for Nationwide Constitution Review Public Hearings

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced a comprehensive schedule for nationwide public hearings, signaling a determined push to amend the nation’s grundnorm through inclusive citizen participation. The much-anticipated hearings will be conducted in 12 zonal centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, culminating in a national public hearing in Abuja.

Revealing the timetable at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasized that the process is designed to be “people-centered” and ensure that “no voice is left unheard.”

The public hearings will be held in two phases. The first phase, focusing on the northern geopolitical zones, is slated for Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13, 2025. Centres for this phase include Kaduna (for Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina), Sokoto (for Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi), Minna (for Niger, Kwara, Kogi), Lafia (for Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, FCT), Gombe (for Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba), and Maiduguri (for Borno, Yobe, Adamawa).

The second phase, covering the southern zones, will take place from Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20, 2025. Southern centres include Lagos (for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo), Akure (for Ondo, Osun, Ekiti), Yenagoa (for Bayelsa, Edo, Delta), Calabar (for Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom), Enugu (for Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi), and Owerri (for Imo, Abia). The entire process will conclude with a national public hearing on Monday, July 21, 2025, in Abuja.

Kalu explained that these hearings are crucial for providing an open platform for citizens, civil society organizations, professional bodies, traditional institutions, and other interest groups to contribute meaningfully to the constitutional reform process. He highlighted that 86 Constitution Review Bills are currently under consideration, covering thematic areas such as Electoral Reforms, Judicial Reforms, Devolution of Powers, Security and Policing, Local Government Autonomy, Fiscal Reforms, and even requests for the creation of new states (46 requests) and local government areas (117 requests).

To facilitate informed participation, the committee plans to present a simplified compendium of these bills to the public, outlining their explanatory memoranda and proposed changes. Kalu urged all Nigerians to actively engage in the hearings, asserting that their contributions are vital to the success of the constitutional review process, which the House aims to conclude by December 2025.