The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has assured that the House would act decisively in order to give States Assembly enough time to debate, deliberate, and endorse the proposed constitution amendment without impeding on electoral calendars.
The Speaker gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at the national public hearing on constitution review.
He said from the outset of the review, the House pledged that it would conclude the process in a timely manner.
Abbas noted: “Nigerians are weary of constitutional reforms that drag on for years, losing momentum and eroding public trust.
“We recognise that, after the National Assembly votes on these bills, the State Houses of Assembly must also consider and approve them under Section 9 of the Constitution.
“To honour this requirement, we have set clear timelines. We intend to vote on the proposals expeditiously and to transmit them promptly to the State Houses of Assembly so that concurrence can be secured within the current legislative session.
“Reform delayed is reform denied, and Nigerians deserve clarity and closure. By acting decisively, we give the States enough time to debate, deliberate, and endorse the people’s will without the pressure of electoral calendars or political distractions.”
The Speaker said Nigeria cannot prosper by leaving half of its talent and energy on the sidelines.
He stated: “Today women hold less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly. That statistic is unacceptable for a country of our size and ambition.
“The reserved seats for women proposal will create additional seats in the National Assembly and State Assemblies to ensure that every state and senatorial district has women’s voices in lawmaking.
“This is not tokenism but a constitutional mechanism to accelerate gender inclusion until structural barriers are dismantled.
“Another amendment requires a minimum threshold of women in ministerial appointments to ensure gender balance. These measures will make our democracy more representative, our policies more responsive, and our country more just.”
The Speaker stressed that similar provisions ensure representation for persons with disabilities at the federal, state, and local levels, recognising their right to fully participate in shaping the laws that affect their lives.
Speaking on behalf of the Conference of Speakers, the Speaker Bauchi state Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, said the constitution of any nation is the supreme guide and the living framework through which citizens, institutions and government interact.
He said Nigeria’s experience has shown that no constitution is never perfect or minor, saying it must remain a work in progress, evolving to the realities, aspirations and challenges of the people it governs
Suleiman noted that the state Houses of Assembly as critical partners in the constitutional amendment process play a vital role in ensuring that whatever reforms emerge from this process do not remain at the level of debate in Abuja, but are ratified, domesticated and implemented across our states.
His words: “We must be frank in acknowledging that Nigeria yearns for a constitution that deepens democracy, guarantees equity and justice, strengthens issues and above all, addresses the pressing needs of security, development and accountability.
“In this process, we will continue to ensure that the voices of states are heard and that the reforms agreed upon here are given the necessary ratification across our 36 assemblies,” he assured