The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed that the Constitution Review Committee received and compiled 87 amendment bills from nationwide public hearings, memoranda, and regional engagements.

Benjamin Kalu who is the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee spoke at the National Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in Abuja on Monday, highlighted the depth of consultations that informed the process.

Kalu said that among the most consequential proposals are Electoral reforms, including Independent Candidacy, an Electoral Offences Commission, and strict timelines for pre-election dispute resolution.

He said that evolution of powers, with a landmark bill to move policing from the Exclusive to the Concurrent List, paving the way for state and community police and Local government autonomy, to ensure financial and administrative independence for grassroots governance were also canvassed.

“The ultimate authority for this process resides with you, the sovereign people of Nigeria; constitutional reform is a marathon, not a sprint. Your continued engagement is crucial to see this through,” he said.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had restated his administration’s commitment to constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s institutions, deepening federalism, and safeguarding citizens’ rights.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, described the review process as a “golden opportunity” for Nigerians to entrench good governance, inclusivity, and sustainable development, and urged citizens to actively participate in shaping the supreme law of the land.

“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is not static but a living document that must continually respond to the realities, aspirations, and challenges of our people.

“I urge all participants to approach this exercise with a spirit of patriotism, responsibility, and constructive dialogue.

“The quality of ideas generated here will go a long way in shaping the laws and institutions that will serve generations yet unborn

“I wish the committee and all stakeholders fruitful deliberations, and I assure you that the outcome of this process will receive the deserved attention as part of our collective quest to build a stronger, more united, and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the committee for creating an inclusive platform that engages citizens, civil society, political parties, professional groups, and traditional institutions in the amendment process.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen described the exercise as a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The speaker said that Nigerians, not just politicians, must participate and shape the supreme law of the land.

He assured citizens that the process would not be bogged down by delays, pledging to expedite passage of the amendments through the National Assembly and prompt transmission to State Houses of Assembly.

“Reform delayed is reform denied, and Nigerians deserve clarity and closure. We intend to vote on the proposals expeditiously and give the states enough time to deliberate and endorse the people’s will,” he said.

The speaker highlighted reserved seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, Guaranteed representation for persons with disabilities, alongside gender quotas in ministerial appointments and formal advisory roles for traditional rulers in peacebuilding and community security among other proposed amendments.

He explained that such reforms would make Nigeria’s democracy more representative, responsive, and just.

The House of Representatives has declared that it is firmly in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s borrowing strategy, as it is an indispensable tool for Nigeria’s economic growth and poverty reduction.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, stated this on Monday in Abuja while speaking at the 8th Annual African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) Conference. Abbas dismissed reports suggesting that the House opposed Tinubu’s borrowing plans, calling them “mischievous and misleading.”

The Conference, hosted by the Nigerian National Assembly and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO), focused on “The Role of PBOs in African Parliaments’ Fiscal Oversights: Contribution to the African 2063 Development Agenda.”

The Speaker was referring to statements credited to him at the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), organised by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee

In his speech at the event read by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbhere, the speaker had warned that the nation’s debt-to-GDP ratio had climbed to 52 per cent, surpassing the 40 per cent statutory limit, while urging parliaments across West Africa to strengthen oversight of public borrowing to safeguard the future of their citizens.

But speaking on Monday, Abbas clarified that the legislature has consistently supported responsible and targeted borrowing to meet Nigeria’s pressing developmental needs.

The Speaker noted that strategic and responsible borrowing is an essential fiscal tool, saying that Nigeria must sometimes leverage credit to finance critical infrastructure, stimulate growth, and protect vulnerable populations

He assured that all borrowings under President Tinubu’s administration are designed to be transparent, sustainable, and in line with Nigeria’s medium-term debt strategy and global best practices.

In his words: “Recently, a speech delivered by the House leader at the West Africa Parliamentary Conference was horrendously and mischievously reported out of context, creating the false impression that the House of Representatives does not support the borrowing strategy of President Tinubu’s administration. We should state clearly that this interpretation is both inaccurate and misleading.

“The 10th House and indeed the National Assembly have consistently affirmed that, in the face of pressing developmental needs, strategic and responsible borrowing is an essential fiscal tool. Like every modern economy, Nigeria must sometimes leverage credit to finance critical infrastructure, stimulate growth, and protect vulnerable populations.

“What is important and what the President has assured is that all borrowings remain targeted, transparent and sustainable, consistent with Nigeria’s medium-term debt strategy and guided by global best practices.

“Under our President’s leadership, borrowed forms are being channeled towards transformative projects that will expand revenue-generating capacity, such as power, transport, and agriculture, rather than for consumption.

“The House stands firmly behind the President’s vision of using judicial borrowing as a catalyst for growth and poverty reduction, while simultaneously strengthening oversight mechanisms.

The Speaker disclosed that Nigeria loses an estimated $18 billion every year to financial crimes, representing roughly 3.8 per cent of the country’s GDP, stating that there was urgent need to strengthen parliamentary fiscal oversight to safeguard public resources.

Abbas warned that Africa collectively loses over $587 billion annually due to corruption, illicit financial flows, and inefficiencies.

He said: “Africa is at the crucial crossroads in its history, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, roughly one-sixth of humanity. Our continent is young, growing and breathing with potentials. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, with over 200 million people and a GDP of around $477 billion in 2022, carries a special responsibility in this African story.

“We are a continent of abundant resources and talented youth, and we have bold ambitions captured in the African Union Agenda 2063, which serves as the blueprint for the Africa we want.
“However, the path to realizing this vision remains difficult. Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is recovering, although modestly, with the World Bank projecting an increase from 3.3 per cent in 2024 to 3.5 per cent in 2025.

“This is indeed encouraging, but it is not yet sufficient to meet our development needs. Poverty remains widespread. An estimated 464 million Africans live in extreme poverty as of 2024. Unemployment and underemployment, especially among young people, are urgent issues.

“Each year, 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, yet only around 3 million formal jobs are created. This gap in opportunities highlights a potential demographic dividend that could turn into a demographic risk if we do not take action.”

He noted that these funds, if properly managed, could significantly enhance social infrastructure, providing better schools across the continent.

Chairperson of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO), Professor Dumisani Jantjies in his remarks stated that Africa’s economies remain highly vulnerable to external shocks of volatile capital flows, global trade disruptions, and climate change impacts.

He said the African Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) are emerging as critical instruments in ensuring fiscal transparency, policy accountability, and alignment with the continent’s long-term development goals.

Stakeholders have reiterated their call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Bill.

They made the call at the #DrawTheLine Day of Global Climate Action, a day for climate justice in Abuja on Sunday.
Dr Michael David, the Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said the bill is a key step to protecting the people and the planet.

The bill, he said, broadens the focus beyond just environmental impacts to include social and health considerations.
”It mandates the comprehensive assessment of all projects with significant risks to the environment and human well-being.

”The climate clock indicates that we are less than three years into the irreversible damage of climate change to the planet if urgent action is not taken.
“We are drawing the line against the use of public funds to support destructive industries that fuel floods, fires, heat waves, hunger, and poverty.
“Instead, we demand that public money be invested in building a safer, fairer, and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.

“As climate impacts escalate, we urgently call for climate finance, especially increased support for adaptation financing to protect vulnerable communities.
“So today we join voices with millions around the world for the Draw the Line, a day of global climate action. A united stand against climate injustice, against poverty, against environmental destruction,” David said.
He urged the government to uphold territories of indigenous peoples and traditional communities across Nigeria and elsewhere in the world and to also support climate-led solutions.

He stressed that Africa requires an estimated 53 billion dollars annually to build resilient infrastructure, support smallholder farmers, and achieve food sovereignty.
“We cannot continue borrowing money for adaptation projects that are destroyed by climate disasters, while our people remain saddled with the debt. There should be zero loans for climate adaptation,” he added.
In the same vein, Mr John Makina, the Country Director of Oxfam, said that the organisation is backing the campaign to ”see how lines can be drawn globally”.
Makina, who was represented by Dr Kenneth Akpan, Climate Justice Manager at Oxfam, said that the organisation was raising silent issues concerning the climate, most especially in vulnerable African countries.
”Today we are backing this campaign to also lend our voices to end poverty, to end injustice when it comes to climate and also even highlight gender justice, which is one aspect that is always very silent when it comes to dealing with climate issues,” he said.
Makina said Oxfam was also supporting the campaign with capacity training, campaign, and every resource needed to draw the attention.
“I also use this opportunity to call on state governments because we are also pushing for state governments to adopt and also create their own state policies,” he said.
Also, Ms Francisca Edeh, Project Coordinator for Oxfam Youth Ambassadors, said that young people play vital roles in climate justice and urged that policy makers include youths at all decision making fora on climate justice.
The ESHIA Bill, 2025, is designed to replace theEbvironmental Impact Assessment Act of 2004.
The new bill aims to create a more comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental, social, and health impacts of projects in Nigeria, incorporating stronger community participation and enforcement measures.
The bill, which incorporates international best practices to align Nigeria’s environmental governance with global sustainability goals, only passed first reading in March.

The primary objective is to prevent harm to host communities, ecosystems, and public health by integrating assessment into project planning and approval processes.

It aims to ensure that development in Nigeria aligns with sustainability principles, climate resilience, and human rights.