Barring last-minute changes, the House of Representatives will take a stand on 87 proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution, covering devolution of powers, local government autonomy, judicial reforms, state police, and socio-economic rights in December.

Speaker of the House, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed this in his welcome address at plenary on Tuesday, assuring that the approved amendments would be transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly before the end of December to ensure early concurrence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abbas described the recent national public hearing on constitutional amendment, organized by the House Committee on Constitutional Review, as “well-attended and highly successful,” reflecting broad public interest and support for the ongoing reforms.

He said the House was determined to conclude electoral reforms early enough to strengthen measures against electoral violence, improve access for persons with disabilities, establish clearer timelines for resolving disputes, and reduce ambiguities witnessed in past elections.

“Our goal is to make elections less contentious and litigious, lower their cost through single-day voting, and make the process of party primaries more democratic and inclusive. Related constitutional changes include provisions for an Electoral Offences Commission. Our goal is to produce a new Electoral Act that stands the test of time,” he stated.

The Speaker noted that the Reserved Seats Bill for women remains a key priority, stressing the importance of expanding women’s representation to improve Nigeria’s global standing.

On security, Abbas reiterated that the issue of multi-level policing would receive serious attention, with the House set to take decisive legislative action on the creation of state police.

“The debate on multi-level policing must move from theory to decisive legislative action. Creating state police through a constitutional amendment remains an option. At the same time, we must strengthen community policing by revising the Police Act, 2020,” he said.

“While Section 19 establishes Community Policing Committees and Section 33(1) vests recruitment in the Inspector-General of Police, these provisions centralize too much authority and limit local responsiveness.”

He suggested devolving recruitment, training, and deployment of community police officers to states under federal oversight to enhance local participation while maintaining national standards and coordination.

The Speaker also reaffirmed the House’s commitment to economic recovery and job creation, lamenting the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to high operational costs, unreliable electricity, and limited access to credit.

He emphasized the need for legislative interventions to accelerate the implementation of the Startup Act, establish vocational training hubs and technology parks, and enact progressive laws promoting renewable energy, grid stability, and private sector investment to boost growth and productivity. (The Guardian)

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