Constitution review will guarantee just federation, says Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the review of the 1999 Constitution embarked upon by the 10th National Assembly will guarantee the evolution of a more just, united and forward looking federation.

Akpabio made the remarks while declaring open the South-South Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

The exercise held simultaneously in five geopolitical zones across the country. A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the Senate President, Anietie Ekong, quoted Senator Akpabio to have said: “Today’s event is not merely a formality. It is a democratic rite—a solemn moment in which the people, not politicians alone, speak into the soul of the nation.

“It is an affirmation that in a democracy, every voice counts. “Let us not forget that democracy is a work in progress. No constitution is eternal in its original form, and no democracy is perfect—because man himself is not perfect.

“But it is in our collective pursuit of perfection—that more perfect union—that the true beauty of democracy lies.

“Therefore, the review of our Constitution is not a sign of weakness but of strength. It is not a complaint against the past, but a commitment to the future.

“We amend not to abandon but to realign—to adapt our national charter to the changing realities, dreams and demands of the good people of Nigeria.

“Every Nigerian is a stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy. This public hearing is a testament to the Senate’s unwavering belief that truth emerges not from silence but from dialogue; not from monologue but from the aggregation of honest opinions.

“That is why we are here—not as party men, but as patriots. Not as political actors, but as nation-builders,” he said.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, said the Constitution review was an important moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey that must lead to a restructuring of the country.

He was represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi.

According to Pastor Eno, “this zonal public hearing is not a mere procedural step in legislative activity. It is, in truth, an important moment in our democratic journey.

“The scores of constitution alteration bills across 13 thematic areas—painstakingly curated by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, speak to some of the most urgent and persistent questions about the structure, efficiency, equity and future of our federal union.

Also, the people of the South-East have demanded a constitution that allows rotation of presidency and grant full autonomy to local government in the country.

They made the request during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on Review of the 1999 Constitution, organised by the Senate yesterday in Enugu.

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, noted that the concept of rotational presidency was paramount to the Southeast. The governor said the state believed that adopting a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones would provide every region, including the Southeast, a fair chance at the highest office in the country.

Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, added that the idea would foster a greater sense of belonging and national unity.

“Similarly, we propose that governorship should rotate among senatorial zones and legislative seats among constituencies, ensuring broader representation and participation at all levels of governance.

“To further enhance inclusivity, particularly for women, we propose legislative seats. We advocate for one additional Senate seat per state for women and two additional House of Representatives seats per state.

“As a state, we advocate for three additional assembly seats per state for women. “This measure will significantly boost gender parity and ensure active participation of women in governance and in decision-making processes,” Mbah said.

The governor also called for institutionalization of local government councils as a truly autonomous form of government team.

Mbah equally called for legislative powers, enhancements, and fiscal reforms that would devolve more powers and resources to the states.

He stressed that the current concentration of power at the centre, a legacy of military rule, had stifled the growth and development of sub-national entities. “A true federal system requires that states are autonomous entities with sufficient powers and resources to positively impact the lives of their citizens,” he concluded.

On his part, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State called for creation of an additional state in the Southeast to make them at par with other geopolitical zones of the country.

Nwifuru, represented by the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr Moses Odunwa, also called for women inclusiveness and reserved political seats for women.

“If a particular seat has been designated for women, all the parties will feature women candidates to fill in the space,” he said.

The public hearing was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, NGOs and the Civil Society Organisations.

In the same vein, stakeholders including state governments, lawmakers across the six states in the Southwest zone, traditional rulers, civil societies, among others yesterday said the ongoing process of constitutional review must give Nigerians effective governance and true federalism.

They spoke in Lagos at the ongoing zonal Senate public hearing on constitutional review.

At the hearing, the Senate observed that previous amendments did not resolve several fundamental questions of governance affecting Nigeria.

The upper chamber noted that diverse initiatives it promoted to introduce state police; enshrine the roles of traditional institutions in the constitution and devolve more powers to sub national governments, among others, in the previous amendments did not secure two-third approval at the state assemblies.

Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau Jibrin, who made the observations, said the need to continuously review the document is sacrosanct.

Represented by the Leader of the Senate and Vice Chairman on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele at the public hearing, Jubrin observed that previous amendments did not tackle several fundamental issues of national importance confronting the federation.

According to him, there was a need “to come up with a constitution that will address the fundamental issues confronting Nigeria.

“In response to the demands of Nigerians, the National Assembly has enacted five amendments to the Constitution, known as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Alteration Acts.

These amendments, he added, addressed various issues related to good governance, institutional strengthening, and national aspirations.

“However, several fundamental issues of national importance remain unresolved, requiring more than just routine law-making by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

“These issues continue to dominate public discourse with many Nigerians advocating for legislative action to address them.

“We received hundreds of memoranda addressing key issues that have not yet been resolved by the previous amendments, mainly due to a lack of national consensus and the evolving dynamics of modern governance.

He, thus, highlighted several fundamental issues that had not been decisively addressed to include electoral reforms and adjudication; judicial reforms focused on case management and administration; enhancement to local government administration, involvement of traditional institutions in contemporary governance, ensuring gender equity and inclusion in governance; devolution and distribution of powers and concerns related to security and policing, among others.

Jubrin added that the committee “has carefully reviewed and drafted all the memoranda that we have into bills. We are now presenting them to you all for further input and discussion.