Despite seemingly starting early, there are indications from the National Assembly, that the task of amending the 1999 constitution may not be accomplished until sometime in year 2026.

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) of the National Assembly, going by its enumerated events, and processes for amendments may not conclude the exercise until 2026, which will be a few months before the general election of 2027 an otherwise busy period for the legislators at both National and State assemblies, because of party primaries and other activities.

Analysts who expected the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment set up on 15 February 2024 and its counterpart in the House of Representatives inaugurated on 26 February 2024 would do the needful in record time may have to exercise some patience as the most crucial part of the exercise, the Public Hearing, scheduled to take place early in 2025.

The Senate Committee has just concluded a three-day retreat in Kano State and would be expected to interact with other critical stakeholders in the remaining five geo-political zones of the country before proceeding to hold Public hearings, collating views on the memoranda, writing reports, passing the amendment bills before sending them to State Assemblies for two-thirds of their concurrence before the final legislative work and presentation for the President’s assent.

There are, however, fears in some quarters that if the committee starts its Public hearing in 2025, less than two years into the lifespan of the legislative year and general elections, when many of the legislators at both national and state assemblies would be seeking re-election by first seeking the party’s ticket, then campaigning for the main election, this may hamper the speed and quality of work.

Five days after the Senate committee on Constitution Amendment concluded its three-day retreat in Kano, a member of the committee, Senator Ali Ndume, (All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress (APC)-Borno South) said their retreat centered on three key issues – federalism, state police, and the local government autonomy.

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) of the Senate, received 37 memoranda from various interest groups in the country as of 28 September 2024. A coalition of Civil Society Organisations recently submitted what it tagged the “Citizens Memorandum” highlighting areas of amendment in the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC rules and regulations.

Also, on 3 October 2024, the media office of former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Atiku said he had sent a memorandum calling for the rotation of the office of the President among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation on a single term of Six Years rotating between the North and South. It is not clear whether his memorandum was part of the 37 quoted by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele in his statement on Monday.

Alhaji Atiku’s proposals came about four months after some members of the House of Representatives proposed a bill to introduce rotation of the presidency between the North and the South as well as the creation of a second vice president position.

The lawmakers, known as “The Reformers”, led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), said the proposals, if adopted, will reduce the cost of governance, among other benefits. Incidentally, the 2014 National Conference also recommended similar power rotation.

It also recommended that the governorship seat should rotate among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states.

The then administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, however, could not implement the conference’s recommendations before it left office.

Throwing more light on the current attempt to review the constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) said the panel will revisit 16 pending alteration bills not considered by the previous session also that the Senate Committee on Constitution Review (CRC) had received 37 memoranda from various interest groups in the country.

His words: “We have already received 37 fresh memoranda from different interests nationwide. We are also revisiting 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the Ninth National Assembly. Before public hearings on the constitution review take off in January 2025, we are open to more memoranda from all interests,” he said.

He listed state police, diaspora voting, local government autonomy, independence of the judiciary, gender issues, and the creation of a national council of traditional rulers as what the memoranda the committee received contained.

“Among others, we have received memoranda on the need to establish state police; adopt diaspora voting; entrench financial autonomy for local government councils; deepen independence of the judiciary; provide special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly and create the National Council of Traditional Rulers. More memoranda are welcome”, he said.

The Senate Leader called on Civil Society Organisations and other interest groups to submit their memoranda for consideration, stressing that the constitutional amendment requires the contribution of lawmakers and all interest groups nationwide.

“The process for the review of the 1999 Constitution is unambiguous as enshrined in Section 9(2)(3). It is a collective approach that requires the input of not (only) the federal and state legislature, but also the contributions of all interests across the federation. As we proceed with the review, we promise not to leave any interest behind in the task of forging a new path for our beloved fatherland. And Nigeria shall be better for it,” he said.

According to him, public hearings on the constitution review are expected to take off in January 2025, and the Committee, according to Senator Bamidele is still open to more memoranda from all interests.

Contrary to social media speculation that an executive Bill had been sent to the Committee on a regional system of government, a member of the Committee said the story is not true. The Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, challenged the proponents of regionalism to send their bill to the National Assembly to test its popularity.

Senator Musa said the establishment of zonal development commissions across the country is not a step towards regionalism but for the social and economic development of the regions.

Speaking on the zonal retreats of the Committee, Senator Barau Jibrin, said the suggestions and recommendations would be submitted to the Senate for further deliberation and approval.

“As we embark on this critical journey, let us remember the timeless values that make nations great: freedom, equality, and justice. These enduring ideals should guide us through this arduous task.

“As we consider desirable amendments to our Constitution, I implore that we do so with the utmost care and consideration. Our decisions today will have far-reaching implications for generations to come, and we must ensure that they are in the best interests of all Nigerians”, Mr Jibrin who is also the deputy senate president, said.

Mr. Jibrin said to achieve meaningful reform, senators would synergise with their colleagues in the House of Representatives and collaborate with critical stakeholders, including the executive arm of government, state governors, state assemblies, the judiciary, and civil society organisations, to build consensus on contentious issues.

He said attaining collective success hinges on the lawmakers’ ability to work together seamlessly, sharing ideas and expertise to develop a report to be submitted to the Senate for further legislative actions.