Constitution Review: State Assemblies Crucial To Determine What Passes, Drops-Kalu, Sen. Barau

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and his Senate counterpart, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin have stated that, the 36 States Houses of Assemblies are very crucial because they will determine the outcome of the ongoing Constitution Review exercise.

They stated this during their separate remarks at the second Joint Retreat of the House and Senate Committees on Constitution Review in Abuja on Monday.

According to them, the States Houses of Assemblies are the last point in ratifying and adopting new Bills as well as amendments in the exercise.

In his address, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu stated that, the success or failure of the constitutional review exercise will ultimately be determined not here in Abuja, but in the 36 State Assemblies across the Federation.

He said, “Distinguished Speakers of State Assemblies, your presence here today is essential. I cannot over emphasize the importance of state-level ownership in this constitutional review process. As we all know, Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires that any alteration to the Constitution must be approved by at least two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the Federation.

“This means that no matter how brilliant, how necessary, or how popular our amendments may be, they will not become law without the support of at least 24 out of 36 State Assemblies. State domestication is, therefore, the constitutional gateway through which every amendment must pass. You are the gatekeepers of constitutional reform, and history will judge us all by the actions we take in the coming weeks.

“Colleagues, let me be clear: this is the final retreat before the historic voting on the constitution alteration bills. After today, we move from deliberation to decision. We move from consultation to legislative action. We move from debate to delivery.

“The amendments we agree upon today will shape Nigeria’s democracy for generations to come. Permit me also to inform this distinguished gathering that, in keeping without commitment to intergovernmental partnership, all Governors of the Federation will be formally briefed on Wednesday, 26th November 2025”.

On his part, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin recalled the meeting held by the Committee a month ago in Lagos where it debated on the Bills, and adjourned for further consultation and consideration.

He said, “Our meeting today will be less deliberative except where there is substantive motion to reconsider any issue already concluded in the last meeting because the purpose of this meeting is to approve the positions reached previously and to receive reports from the sub-committees constituted to take further legislative actions on some of the Bills; and the issue of State and Local government creation, referred to them.

“This meeting will also serve the purpose of ensuring that the State Houses of Assembly, our critical and strategic partners on Constitution Alteration process are fully brought on board on the issues that we have sieved after all the Public hearings and the consultations that we have had across the zones and States of the Country.

“It will also offer them the opportunity to make observations and input before we present our report to the plenary and before the Bills that meet the threshold of Section 9 of the Constitution are transmitted to them”.