House Sets Timeline, to Consult with Govs, Speakers, Editors over Constitution Review

•National, zonal public hearings begin in July

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives, has scheduled a meeting with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for July 23, 2025 to present proposed constitutional amendment bills and solicit the governors’ cooperation in getting them passed.

The Committee disclosed that it would hold a joint retreat with members of the Senate committee and the Speakers of all 36 States Houses of Assembly to streamline and synchronise the legislative proposals to ensure uniform application across the federation.

The Committee has also arranged for interactions with key media stakeholders —including the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigerian Broadcasters Association (NBN) — as well as civil society groups and diplomatic representatives to drive public discourse and awareness on constitutional reforms while enhancing transparency and accountability.

All these meetings were part of the committee’s strategy to secure the approval of vital constitutional bills before the end of December 2025.

These resolutions were revealed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, during a committee meeting held on Wednesday at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he shared a comprehensive timetable for the review process.

Kalu emphasised the importance of passing the current set of constitutional amendment bills by December 2025 and noted that additional rounds of review might be required, as lawmakers were still introducing new proposals.

He reported that the committee was making steady progress toward its goals, but emphasised that certain key tasks must be completed on schedule to remain on track.

Kalu confirmed that the second engagement with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum would take place on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 and that during this session, the Committee would present the current bills, ask for their backing on proposed changes, and aim to secure consensus on bills that may be contentious.

A Joint Retreat, involving Constitution Review Committee members from both the House and Senate, along with Speakers and Clerks from the 36 State Assemblies, would be held from Thursday, September 25 to Sunday, September 28, 2025 to align positions on the proposed amendments.

“A diplomatic dinner will be held on June 20, 2025, organised by the Constitution Review Committee to seek support from foreign diplomatic missions. The focus will be on critical themes such as gender equality, security reform, and state policing, with the goal of aligning with international best practices” kalu said.

He further revealed that the Committee would also engage Civil Society and Community-Based Organisations during the National Assembly Open Week on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

These engagements, he said, were aimed to draw on external expertise and alternative viewpoints to refine the constitutional review process, highlight potential gaps, and foster wider debates on necessary reforms.