House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee Sets Comprehensive Engagement Timeline Toward December 2025 Bill Passage
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has unveiled a comprehensive timeline of activities aimed at ensuring the successful passage of key constitutional amendment bills by December 2025.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, during a panel meeting held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
As part of its broad-based engagement strategy, the Committee has announced plans to meet with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, to present the bills currently under consideration.
This meeting is designed to secure the Governors’ support, particularly for contentious bills, and to strengthen buy-in for the proposed amendments.
This marks the second round of engagements with the NGF, following a previous session in which the Governors requested a detailed briefing on the amendments.
In a related development, a Joint Retreat of the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees with the Speakers and Clerks of the 36 State Houses of Assembly will be held from Thursday, September 25 to Sunday, September 28, 2025.
The purpose of the retreat is to harmonise the various bills and ensure uniformity and consistency in their consideration across the legislative bodies at federal and state levels.
Additionally, the Committee has slated a high-level Diplomatic Dinner on June 20, 2025, targeting members of the diplomatic corps. The goal is to seek international collaboration and support on critical thematic areas, including gender inclusion, security architecture, and the introduction of state policing. These engagements are expected to help promote global best practices within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
In keeping with its commitment to inclusivity and transparency, the Committee will engage extensively with civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), and the media.
An engagement session with CSOs and CBOs is scheduled to hold as part of the National Assembly Open Week on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
This initiative aims to bring expertise and alternative perspectives into the constitutional review process, enabling the Committee to consider deficiencies in the current proposals and enrich the review through informed debate.
Furthermore, a media stakeholders’ meeting involving senior media executives—such as members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON)—is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8 or Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Abuja.
According to Hon. Kalu, the media plays a crucial role in educating the public, promoting constructive discourse, and fostering a sense of national ownership of the constitution review process.
The meeting is intended to facilitate public education and debates on constitutional matters, ultimately enhancing transparency and consensus-building.
Hon. Kalu further disclosed that the Committee will conduct extensive public hearings on the bills across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to gather the views and inputs of citizens. These hearings will focus on 87 prioritised bills that have passed the second reading in the House.
Northern Zones Hearings: Friday, July 11 – Sunday, July 13, 2025
Southern Zones Hearings: Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 20, 2025
National Public Hearing: Monday, July 21, 2025
In preparation, Zonal Chairmen and their deputies have been tasked with liaising with States within their jurisdictions to ensure active participation and robust citizen engagement.
As part of its stakeholder engagement efforts, the Committee will also meet with the leadership of all 18 registered political parties in Nigeria on Monday, July 14, 2025, in Abuja. This meeting aims to foster political consensus on the proposed amendments and incorporate diverse political perspectives into the process.
To facilitate legislative understanding and readiness, the House will hold a one-week plenary debate on the constitution amendment bills from Tuesday, October 7 to Thursday, October 9, 2025. This will be followed by plenary voting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Post-voting, a Secretariat Retreat is scheduled from Thursday, October 16 to Sunday, October 19, 2025, to produce clean, final copies of the adopted bills. These will be formally transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly during a ceremonial event at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
The event will be attended by the leadership of both the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees, alongside the Speakers and Clerks of the State Assemblies.
Hon. Kalu concluded by urging all members of the Committee to work diligently and within the stipulated timelines, emphasizing the importance of meeting the December 2025 target. He also hinted at the possibility of a second round of constitutional amendments, given that new bills are still being sponsored by members.
“Steady progress is being made on our work plan implementation, and our targets are achievable. However, some crucial activities must be accomplished within the given timeframe,” he noted.
Through this inclusive, consultative, and transparent process, the Committee hopes to deliver constitutional amendments that reflect the aspirations of Nigerians and enhance democratic governance across all levels of government.