— First Batch From 260 Bills That Passed Second Reading After Year-Long Review Process
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After a year-long constitution review process, the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, is set to vote on 44 Constitution Alteration Bills on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
The bills represent the first batch of amendments selected from a total of 260 constitution review bills that passed second reading in the House. The prioritised bills emerged from the work of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Altered), which commenced its assignment in February 2024.
The 44 proposed amendments cover critical thematic areas, including local government autonomy, inclusive governance, electoral reform, judicial independence and efficiency, devolution of powers, fiscal reforms, and security, including state policing.
Key proposals include a bill to recognise local government councils as a distinct tier of government, the establishment of the offices of state auditors-general for local governments and Federal Capital Territory area councils to strengthen fiscal oversight, and a constitutional amendment granting citizenship rights to foreign men married to Nigerian women.
Other proposed changes seek to create reserved seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, establish clear criteria for appointing members of State Independent Electoral Commissions, grant additional powers to the commissions, introduce independent candidacy, and empower the Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offences.
Additional bills aim to separate the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation and of states from the offices of the Minister and Commissioner for Justice, respectively; separate the qualifications and disqualifications of governors and deputy governors; remove transitional law-making powers from the executive arm of government; and ensure expedited hearing and determination of election petitions.
Since its inauguration, the Constitution Review Committee has undertaken extensive consultations nationwide. These included retreats, sectoral engagements with the judiciary, high-level dialogues on security, and international engagements focused on gender inclusion.
The committee conducted 12 zonal public hearings across the six geopolitical zones, receiving submissions from citizens, traditional rulers, state governments, political parties, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, professional bodies, and security sector representatives. A national public hearing was also held in Abuja to complement the zonal sessions.
Further consultations were held with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, and leaders of registered political parties. A joint retreat between the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees in October and November 2025 helped build consensus on priority reform areas.
Ahead of the vote, advocacy for reserved legislative seats for women has intensified. Stakeholders argue that the measure is necessary to address Nigeria’s low representation of women in elective offices.
Advocates maintain that the proposed women’s seats promote equity, inclusion, and national development, while helping to correct longstanding gender imbalances in political participation.
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