By Joy Odor
The Senate has announced that it will hold a public hearing on the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) in Lagos on Friday.
The hearing aimed to subject proposals for far-reaching reforms, including the creation of 18 additional local governments, establishment of state police, and electoral system reforms, to public discourse.
The public hearing will consider proposals for the creation of additional local governments, establishment of state police, and reforms of the electoral system, among others.
The Senate will hold simultaneous public hearings in other geopolitical zones across the federation, except for the North-west, which has been postponed due to the demise of a prominent businessman.
The Committee has received diverse proposals, including bills seeking to alter the constitution to provide for state police, state security councils, and transfer of labour and industrial relations to the concurrent legislative list.
A bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police or other state government security agencies.
A bill seeking to establish the State Security Council to advise State Governors on matters relating to public security and safety.
A bill seeking to transfer labour, industrial relations, and industrial disputes to the concurrent legislative list.
Proposals seeking independent candidature for qualified citizens and diaspora voting for Nigerians living outside the country.
32 proposals for the creation of additional states have been received, with six from North-west, eight from North-central, five from South-east, six from North-east, six from South-south, and four from South-west.
18 requests for the creation of local government areas have been received nationwide.
