The Northwest zonal public hearing on the proposed alteration to the provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has commenced in the Kaduna centre.
The hearing is chaired by the Northwest Zonal Chairman, Senate Committee on 1999 constitutional review, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who is also representing Kano South constituency.
In his welcome address, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said the proposals for the alteration of 1999 Constitution is holding simultaneously across all the six geopolitical zones of our the Country.
According to him, the reason the zonal hearing is coming before the National public hearing is mainly to adopt a bottom-top approach by first listening to Nigerians at the geo-political level.
Omo-Agege disclosed that, the approach underscores the critical importance the Constitution Review committee places on the subnational levels of governance in Nigeria. “Surely, and without a doubt, the success of the Committee’s review process will be dependent on your beneficent support and partnership. You are indeed the pillar on which the Committee’s work is to be anchored”.
Represented by Senator Kabiru Gaya, Omo-Agege mentioned that, at the commencement of this 9th Senate, a legislative agenda on the need to address, by way of constitutional amendments, topical issues like Judicial and Electoral Reforms, Local Government Autonomy, and devolution of powers was set.
“You will agree with me that if we get those items through constitutional processes of alteration successfully then our constitutional democracy will be set on the right pedestal and ultimately, Nigeria will take its pride of place among the enviable constitutional democracies in the World”.
“As a living document, the Constitution, and to a large extent, our constitutional democracy needs to be reviewed from time to time. Just as in our day to day lives, we take stock of the past and plan for the future, so it must be with the nation. Indeed, this ongoing review provides a platform for the good people of Nigeria to express their opinions on the fundamental law that governs our lives through proposals that will lead to the highest good for the greatest number of our people”.
Omo-Agege however said, no doubt, the review is going to have diverse and differing views on the different themes of the exercise. However, the focus for the committee is how to manage the review exercise in a fair, inclusive, credible, and transparent manner.
The Deputy Senate President further stated that, the zonal public hearings have been designed in such a manner as to give citizens greater opportunities to make inputs more than ever before in the Constitution amendment process.
“The Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution is mindful of the recurring clamour for constitutional amendment or review over the years. Since return to constitutional democracy in 1999, many have argued that the 1999
Constitution is not a people’s constitution. In other words, it has been argued that it was written and forced down on us by the military without any input from the people”.
“Undoubtedly, this places on us, the Senate and our counterparts in the House of Representatives, a herculean task of giving the people a Constitution that speaks to these challenges and one which our citizens can truly call their own”, he stressed.
Omo-Agege noted that, the review is not an attempt at writing an entirely new constitution but it gives us an opportunity to bring it closer to that which the people desire and to ensure active participation and input from all.
“The Committee has also been tasked with revisiting some of the amendments proposed in past exercises which did not scale through all the hurdles of constitution amendment such as concurrence with the House of
Representatives, ratification by State Houses of Assembly and the requirement for Presidential assent. We have painstakingly re-examined those bills and reintroduced some of those proposals we deem beneficial to our people”.
He encouraged and implored all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations to support the Senate and the National Assembly, in order to bring positive transformations to the Country.
On his part, Senator Uba Sani said there is no better time to pass laws regarding state police, state judiciary, resource control and revenue allocation in favour of the states if not now.
“Such laws are paramount to bring development closer to the people and must be deliberated in action to ensure we create a sustainable nation that will stand and prosper for generations to come.”
While appreciating the zonal committee Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya whom he described as an embodiment of wisdom and efficiency, He assured all participants that their inputs will be weighed and incorporated into their reports for submission to the Senate.
“This constitutional reform process is an ideal forum where crucial issues of national importance can be discussed and eventually resolved.”
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