Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review, Barau Jibrin, has urged federal and state lawmakers to remain steadfast as the constitution amendment process enters its decisive stage.

Barau spoke yesterday at a joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Constitution Review with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Abuja.

The Deputy Senate President said the engagement was aimed at firming up positions earlier agreed upon and ensuring full collaboration with state assemblies before transmitting approved Bills to the Executive.

The meeting, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together members of the National Assembly, state assembly speakers and consultants working on the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.

Barau recalled the committee’s previous meeting in Lagos, where members debated the amendment Bills and agreed to reconvene for further consultations.

The Deputy Senate President hailed fellow lawmakers for their “commitment and dedication” to what he called one of the most important legislative assignments before the 10th National Assembly.

He noted that the Abuja meeting was not designed for fresh debates except where there was a substantive motion to revisit an already concluded matter.

According to him, members are expected to adopt agreed positions and receive reports from the sub-committees working on specific areas, including state and local government creation.

Barau said the presence of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly was crucial, describing them as “critical and strategic partners” whose concurrence is required under Section 9 of the Constitution before any amendment can become law.

“This meeting offers the state assemblies the opportunity to be fully brought on board on the issues we have sieved after public hearings and consultations across the country,” he said.

“Their observations and inputs are important as we prepare our final report to the plenary.”

The Deputy Senate President urged all stakeholders to remain committed to ensuring that the amendment Bills are transmitted to the state assemblies before the end of the year.

He added: “We are in the last lap of this assignment. Nigerians are looking up to us, and we must fulfil our purpose by ensuring that the constitution amendment bills get to the state houses of assembly this year.”

Also, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has said Nigerians are looking up to the legislature to have holistic reforms that will, among others, bring governance closer to them and localise internal security.

Kalu spoke at the second joint retreat of the House and Senate Committees on Constitution Review yesterday in Abuja.

The Deputy Speaker described the meeting as a defining chapter in the collective journey to deliver a Constitution that truly serves the people, deepens democracy, and strengthens the foundations of the nation.

He said reforms through the ongoing constitution review should birth the creation of state police, empower their voices through credible elections, ensure fiscal federalism and equitable resource distribution, protect the rights and dignity of every citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion, and guarantee local government autonomy so that development could reach the last community.

Kalu recalled that since the commencement of the constitutional review, the committee had recorded significant and measurable progress.

He added: “Three prior committee retreats were dedicated to capacity building, technical refinement, and thematic deliberations on critical constitutional issues.

“Six zonal public hearings were conducted across all geopolitical zones, during which we received submissions from thousands of Nigerian citizens, traditional rulers, state executives, political parties, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth leaders, professional bodies, and the security community.

“There were argeted consultations with critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, because true federalism thrives on intergovernmental cooperation, not rivalry; leaders of all registered political parties because constitutional amendments must reflect collective consensus above partisanship.”

“Traditional institutions (were involved) because cultural legitimacy reinforces constitutional stability. The national security and intelligence community (is also involved) to strengthen Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty to ensure reforms; civil society, women’s groups, and professional organisations: to capture the voices of those who live the realities of governance daily.

“The consensus from these extensive engagements is unmistakable: Nigerians yearn for a Constitution that empowers local governments, ensures credible elections, strengthens fiscal federalism, guarantees gender inclusion, and enhances accountability across all tiers of government.

“Most recently, our deliberations at the Lagos retreat in October 2025 produced a critical consensus on priority reform areas. That retreat was a defining moment; it brought together the finest minds from both chambers, and we left Lagos with a shared understanding of the constitutional amendments that enjoy the broadest public support and political feasibility.

“I cannot overemphasise the importance of state-level ownership in this constitutional review process. As we all know, Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires that any alteration to the constitution must be approved by at least two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the Federation.

“This means that no matter how brilliant, how necessary, or how popular our amendments may be, they will not become law without the support of at least 24 out of 36 State Assemblies. State domestication is, therefore, the constitutional gateway through which every amendment must pass.

“The success or failure of this constitutional review will ultimately be determined not here in Abuja, but in the 36 State Assemblies across the federation. You are the gatekeepers of constitutional reform, and history will judge us all by the actions we take in the coming weeks.

“Let me be clear: this is the final retreat before the historic voting on the Constitution Alteration Bills. After today, we move from deliberation to decision. We move from consultation to legislative action. We move from debate to delivery. History is watching us.

“The entire nation, over 200 million Nigerians, anticipate direction from this Assembly. Our people yearn for reforms that devolve power and bring governance closer to the grassroots, localise internal security through innovative approaches, like state police, empower their voices through credible elections, ensure fiscal federalism and equitable resource distribution, protect the rights and dignity of every citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion, guarantee local government autonomy so that development reaches the last community.

“The amendments we agree upon today will shape Nigeria’s democracy for generations to come. Permit me also to inform this distinguished gathering that, in keeping with our commitment to intergovernmental partnership, all Governors of the federation will be formally briefed on Wednesday, November 25, 2025.

“The Constitution we seek to refine is the soul of our Republic, the expression of our common destiny, the framework upon which the hopes and dreams of every Nigerian rest. Let the work we do here in Abuja reflect our shared commitment to a Nigeria that works for all.

“Let this retreat produce a clear, achievable roadmap; one that strengthens local governance, enhances gender balance, ensures credible elections, and secures our federation against future instability. As the Senate and House stand united in this constitutional review process, let us leave this hall with the resolve to transform our deliberations into enduring constitutional milestones.

“To the Speakers of State Assemblies, we count on your partnership. Go back to your states as ambassadors of reform, as champions of the people’s will, as guarantors that these amendments will receive the support they deserve.

“To the governors, we will brief on Wednesday. Rest assured that this is not an attempt to undermine executive authority; it is an effort to strengthen federalism, improve governance, and deliver the democracy Nigerians deserve.

“To my colleagues in the Senate and House: this is our moment. Let us rise to it. Together, we can build a Constitution that guarantees justice, equity, and progress for every Nigerian; today and for generations to come.” (The Nation)

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