By Comfort Olayinka
Rep. Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, says Nigeria is blessed to have Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the chairman, House Committee on Constitutional Review.
Recall that the Committee recently held a three-day workshop with Justices, Judges and Speakers of the State House of Assembly in Lagos.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Agbese praised the Deputy Speaker for his exceptional leadership and innovative approach to the constitution review process.
The Deputy Spokesman said the Kalu-led committee has adopted a citizen-driven approach, engaging with various stakeholders and soliciting inputs from Nigerians across the country.
According to him, this inclusive strategy has ensured that the review process reflects the aspirations and concerns of citizens, making the Constitution truly representative of our collective values.
He said these efforts have not only enhanced the review process but also fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among Nigerians.
“As the Chairman of the House of Reps Constitution Review Committee, Rep. Kalu has proven to be a blessing to our great nation, demonstrating unwavering dedication and a passion for democratic growth,” Agbese said.
“He has come up with innovative approaches and extensive engagement to help us get it right this time. What we have done is to identify some thematic areas that Nigerians are yearning for changes to the constitution as it concerns good governance.
“We consequently identified critical stakeholders in various sectors to interface with us and provide their insight and guide us through the process. These efforts have not only enhanced the review process but also fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among Nigerians.”
Agbese added that the Committee has set a timeline for themselves and is aggressively working on certain areas of concern to Nigerians.
“We looked at state creation, state police, local government autonomy and contradictions in local government elections,” he said.
“We also touched on autonomy and funding for the judiciary.”
Agbese, however, assured that the Committee will keep to its promise of concluding the process before December 2025.
“We are trying to amend the constitution and not create further problems for the nation,” he noted. “We want a constitution that would be as flexible as possible that would strengthen our institutions.
“We strongly believe that we can have a constitution that would not only unite us but will also give a sense of nationhood to citizens. “
