By Comfort Olayinka
The Nigerian Senate has commenced a crucial phase of its constitutional amendment process with a public hearing in Lagos, focusing on transformative proposals including the creation of 18 new local governments, establishment of state police, and sweeping electoral reforms.
The South-West zonal hearing, which begins Friday at Water Crest Hotel, Ikeja, is part of a nationwide engagement to gather public input on over 80 constitutional amendment proposals. Similar hearings are slated across all geopolitical zones except the North-West, which was postponed in honor of the late Kano philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader and Chairman of the South-West Constitution Review Committee, said the initiative is designed to give Nigerians a voice in shaping the country’s governance architecture. He emphasized that the two-day Lagos forum would address key issues such as:
Establishment of state police and State Security Councils
Transfer of labour and waterways regulation to the Concurrent Legislative List
Guaranteed representation of local governments in State Houses of Assembly
Legal backing for independent candidacy and diaspora voting
Constitutional timeline for presenting and approving Appropriation Bills
Review of the derivation formula and fiscal federalism
Internal resolution of pre-election disputes by political parties
According to Bamidele, the committee has received 18 proposals for new LGAs and 32 requests for new states, signaling growing demands for structural decentralization and local governance reforms.
The Senate Constitution Review Committee, inaugurated in February 2024 and led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jubrin, has classified the reform proposals into key thematic areas including security, fiscal restructuring, judicial reforms, and traditional institution roles.
This zonal dialogue marks a pivotal step in what may become the most extensive constitutional overhaul since 1999.
