*Says State Assemblies Disapproved Key Proposals on State Police, Others
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Prominent stakeholders across the South-West converged in Lagos on Friday for the zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, where the Senate noted that previous amendments failed to resolve several fundamental questions of governance affecting Nigeria.
Consequently, the upper chamber revealed that various initiatives it previously championed—such as the introduction of state police, the constitutional recognition of traditional institutions, and the devolution of more powers to subnational governments—did not secure the required two-thirds approval from state assemblies.
Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, made these key observations during the hearing held at the WaterCrest Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
In attendance were Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Southwest Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II); Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; Oba Adewale Shotobi; and Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, among others.
Since the dawn of the Fourth Republic, the National Assembly has undertaken five attempts to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended), each resulting in incremental revisions to the national charter.
Represented by the Senate Leader and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Jibrin observed that the previous amendments failed to address several fundamental national issues.
He stressed the need to enact a constitution that genuinely confronts Nigeria’s core governance challenges. “In response to the demands of Nigerians, the National Assembly has passed five amendments to the Constitution, known as the 1st to 5th Alteration Acts,” he noted.
“These amendments covered issues relating to good governance, institutional strengthening, and national development aspirations.
“However, several fundamental national issues remain unresolved. Addressing them requires more than routine legislation by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
“These issues continue to dominate public discourse, with many Nigerians calling for meaningful legislative action. We have received hundreds of memoranda on key unresolved matters—mainly due to the lack of national consensus and the evolving realities of modern governance.”
He identified some of the outstanding issues as electoral reforms and dispute resolution; judicial reforms aimed at efficient case management and administration; improved local government administration; the role of traditional institutions in governance; gender equity and inclusivity; power devolution; and concerns around security and policing.
Commending the Senate Committee for organizing the hearing, Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that the challenges confronting the federation “are significant and wide-ranging.”
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