Constitution review: Senate won’t impose opinion on Nigerians — Senator Barau

… Kano, Jigawa, Katsina back state creation, state police

Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Constitution review, Senator Barau Jibrin, has assured Nigerians that the committee will not impose its views on the people but will remain open, inclusive, and guided by principles of patriotism, ethics, and legislative best practices.

He gave this assurance on Saturday at the North-West Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional review held at the Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano. He said the committee’s work is focused on addressing long-standing governance and structural challenges in line with national consensus.

Senator Barau said, “Since our nation’s return to constitutional democracy in 1999, following a prolonged period of military dictatorship, the calls for amendments and reviews to the Constitution have remained persistent and vigorous.

“I want to emphasise that many Nigerians believe the challenges we face regarding our Constitution and governance are not solely due to a need for constitutional amendments.

“Instead, they stem from our attitude towards life and our commitment to upholding not just the letters of the Constitution, our foundational norm, but also its spirit.

“It is crucial to recognise that our committee’s work represents a collaborative effort with our esteemed colleagues in both the House of Representatives and the State Houses of Assembly.

“To achieve the vital constitutional reforms we seek, we must unite and work in harmony with all and sundry.

“I am encouraged by the numerous national and state legislators present today, all of whom share a common vision.

“Our collaboration will not end with this public hearing; together, we will enhance our contributions to produce outcomes that resonate with a national consensus, always prioritising the interests of our citizens.

“We received hundreds of memos addressing key issues that have not yet been resolved by the previous amendments, mainly due to a lack of national consensus and the evolving dynamics of modern governance.

“Several key issues we need to address include electoral reforms and adjudication; judicial reforms focused on case management and administration; enhancements to local government administration; the involvement of traditional institutions in contemporary governance; promoting human rights; ensuring gender equity and inclusion in governance; the devolution and distribution of powers and concerns related to security and policing.

“We have carefully reviewed and translated your memoranda into bills, which we now present to you for further input and discussion.

“We encourage you to share your insights and contributions at this hearing with an open mind. The Committee is committed to considering all viewpoints and perspectives, particularly those of individuals who may be unable to travel to Abuja to express their opinions.

“We invite you to articulate your thoughts and engage in the crucial reform process aimed at strengthening our democratic structures, institutions and fostering unity, as well as improving good governance. So, you are here to ventilate your views. You have no bounds.”

In their separate presentation, the Jigawa state governor, represented by the state deputy governor, Alhaji Aminu Usman, said they supported state creation as well as giving a constitutional role to the traditional rulers

The state equally threw its support to the establishment of the state police.

While the Kano state rejected the indigenisation or birthright of making any person that have resided in the state for a period of ten years.

Speaking on behalf of the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Chief of Staff, Dr.Wali Sani, confirmed that the state government and its citizens called for more creation of states from the present Kano state.

While the representative from Katsina state, Senator Ibrahim Ida, does not support diaspora voting, but was in full agreement and support of additional states from the present Katsina state.

Also, the state government called for a specific role for traditional rulers in the constitution

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Women-Led Organisations (CW-led Organisation) has presented a gender bill, seeking one more senatorial seat from the 36 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, which will give them 37 Senators.

While the group also advocated for two seats from the 36 and FCT should be allocated to womenfolk in the House of Representatives at the Nigerian Senate Constitutional Review Committee Public Hearing in Kano.

Presenting the draft bill to the Hearing, Dr. Mohamed Mustapha Yahya, leading a coalition of women-led organisations, presented the gender bill during the zonal public hearing by the Nigerian Senate holding in Kano on Tuesday.

The coalition, led by organisations such as FIDA, RAPA, WACOL, PONGWAN, and WOWIKAN, aims to secure additional seats for women in the National Assembly and state House of Assemblies.

Mustapha hints that their efforts are focused on addressing the severe underrepresentation of Women in the Nation’s elected offices.

He said, “The gender bill proposes several key measures, including the allocation of additional Senate seats. Specifically, the bill suggests one additional seat for women in all 36 states, including the FCT, which would result in 37 reserved seats for women in the Senate.

“Another crucial proposal within the gender bill pertains to the House of Representatives. The coalition advocates for one seat for every three senatorial districts, which would translate to 47 seats for women in the House of Representatives.”

Furthermore, the leader of the women’s group said the bill proposes three additional seats for women in each state’s assembly, utilising the three senatorial zones as a basis. This measure aims to ensure women’s representation at the state level as well.

Yahya emphasised that the primary objective of the gender bill is to ensure women’s representation in governance. He highlighted that women constitute 45-49% of Nigerian voters but are severely underrepresented in the National Assembly and state legislatures.

“Democracy is a game of numbers. If you look at it, women constitute over 45 to 49 per cent of the Nigerian voters. But women are not represented,” he said.

Habiba Ahmed, Senior Programs Officer of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), urged the government to accept, pass, and fully implement the special reserved seat for women bill. She stressed the importance of this legislation for promoting women’s participation in governance.

Ahmed also emphasised the need for electoral reform, including an independent INAC chairman nomination process, to ensure free and fair electoral processes.

This, she argued, is crucial for guaranteeing the effectiveness of the proposed gender bill.

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