Committee to be Inaugurated on February 26, 2024, with a Pledge to Deliver Comprehensive Amendments
The House of Representatives has voiced strong confidence in Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to effectively lead the House Committee on Constitution Review. The committee, recently constituted to examine proposals and demands for alterations and amendments to the 1999 constitution, is set to be inaugurated on February 26, 2024.
The committee, the sixth of its kind since 1999, comprises experienced lawmakers and is tasked with reviewing and amending the existing law book. Speaking to reporters in Kano, Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, expressed the lawmakers’ belief in Deputy Speaker Kalu’s capability, stating that this committee is poised to succeed where previous ones faced challenges.
Agbese remarked, “With the Deputy Speaker, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu on the driver seat of the Constitution Review Committee of the 10th House of Representatives, Nigerians should go to bed and rest, with the assurance of waking up the next day to the realization of their yearnings and aspirations.”
He emphasized that the Kalu-led Committee would actively engage with stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, government agencies, traditional rulers, and various interest groups, to ensure a comprehensive amendment to Nigeria’s legal framework.
Agbese urged groups and agencies advocating for amendments to closely collaborate with their representatives, as the Committee gears up for official inauguration later this month. Highlighting the existence of about 40 bills at various stages in the National Assembly seeking constitutional amendments, he stressed the importance of cooperation to enable the Committee to fulfill its mandate by December 2025.
Describing Kalu as a Pan-Nigerian Parliamentarian known for integrity and inclusiveness, Agbese affirmed that the Deputy Speaker would address the aspirations of those seeking amendments to the nation’s constitution. Kalu, in a recent meeting with committee members, pledged to complete the assignment by December 2025, urging them to work diligently to meet citizens’ expectations for concrete amendments in a timely manner.
