By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
The House of Representatives has assured Nigerians that the ongoing constitution review process will address the collective aspirations of the people, as mounting demands for resource control, fiscal federalism, and the creation of new states and local governments dominate public discourse nationwide.
Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki, and Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa, gave the assurance during visits to Kaduna and Borno States ahead of the zonal public hearings for the North-West and North-East regions, respectively.
Speaking in Kaduna, Madaki encouraged stakeholders from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States to actively engage in the process, stating that the National Assembly is committed to incorporating the voice of the people.
He explained that the public hearings were structured to include diverse perspectives, stressing that no substantial constitutional reform could be achieved without widespread public involvement.
In Maiduguri, Hon. Isa reaffirmed that the hearings were being held simultaneously across the country to ensure that citizens’ views shape the review process and reflect the nation’s democratic ideals.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, renewed his longstanding call for states to gain greater authority over resources located within their borders. Represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the governor argued that such decentralisation was crucial to advancing true federalism, fostering economic growth, and promoting political stability.
He noted that the current concentration of power at the federal level has hindered innovation, obstructed local problem-solving efforts, and distanced government from the people. According to him, fiscal federalism should be recognised as a constitutional necessity, not an optional reform.
Governor Sani further advocated for governance structures that adhere to the principle of subsidiarity, allowing states to legislate on local affairs and directly benefit from their natural resources while making nationally defined contributions. He warned that continued structural imbalance in the federation fuels public dissatisfaction and poses a risk to national cohesion.
He also pressed for the establishment of state police, referencing his previous legislative efforts—including the Constitution Alteration Bill 2020 and Nigeria Police Act Amendment Bill—to expand states’ control over internal security.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) strongly opposed proposals for the creation of an Ecclesiastical Court for Christians and full resource control for oil-producing states.
Presenting its position at the Kaduna hearing, the Council’s Secretary-General, Malam Nafi’u Baba-Ahmed, described such proposals as potentially divisive and lacking legal foundation. He maintained that the current judiciary adequately serves all religious groups, and the establishment of an Ecclesiastical Court was unnecessary and unsupported by Christian legal traditions globally.
Kano State’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo, submitted a memorandum calling for the creation of a new state out of Kano and the expansion of its local governments from 44 to 70, citing population growth and administrative efficiency as justifications for the request.
In Maiduguri, the long-standing agitation for the creation of Amana State resurfaced, as communities from Adamawa and Borno renewed their demand—first made during the 1961 UN-supervised plebiscite. Alhaji Sali Bello, Director-General of the Amana State Movement, reminded the review panel that the people of Northern Cameroon opted to join Nigeria with the understanding that they would be granted a separate state, a promise that remains unfulfilled. He appealed for the creation of Amana State with Mubi as its capital.
Also speaking, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, raised concerns over the poor representation of women in governance, warning that continued exclusion could impede innovation, economic development, and effective policymaking.
At a legislative session focused on women’s political representation, Kalu lamented Nigeria’s ranking among the lowest globally in terms of female lawmakers, with only 20 of 469 National Assembly seats held by women and some State Assemblies lacking a single female member.
He attributed the situation to systemic factors such as the First-Past-the-Post electoral system, biased party nomination processes, and entrenched socio-cultural barriers. Kalu expressed hope that the proposed special seats bill would correct the imbalance by reserving specific positions for women as a temporary measure.
He clarified that creating 74 additional seats for women would cost less than one per cent of the national budget and under five per cent of the National Assembly’s allocation, describing the move as a sound investment in democratic equity.
Kalu cited research indicating that Nigeria could achieve up to nine per cent GDP growth by 2025 if women’s participation in governance improves. “Some gender-focused legislation and policies are better driven by women. If we don’t have women in the room, it’s like cutting a man’s hair in his absence,” he remarked.
