The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed 39 constitutional amendment bills for second reading in a historic move aimed at reforming various sectors, including electoral processes, judiciary, policing, and governance.
Key proposals among the bills include:
- Conducting general elections for the President, State Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Councils simultaneously on the same date, as determined by INEC in consultation with the National Assembly.
- Establishment of State Police and Local Government Police to enhance security and policing at subnational levels.
- Creation of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) House of Assembly to provide legislative representation for the FCT.
- Making the Court of Appeal the final appellate court for governorship, national, and state Houses of Assembly election petitions, streamlining electoral dispute resolution.
- Vesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the power to conduct local government area council elections, centralizing electoral management.
- Requiring compulsory resignation from political parties before defection by members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to curb political instability.
- Establishing a National Local Government Electoral Commission as an independent body to organize and supervise local government elections nationwide, including the FCT.
- Providing special legislative seats for persons with disabilities and special interest groups to promote inclusive governance.
- Strengthening the autonomy and powers of the Auditor-General’s offices at the federal and state levels to enhance financial accountability.
- Establishing a Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission to oversee the registration, regulation, and monitoring of political parties.
- Expanding the number of Supreme Court justices to improve judicial efficiency and access to justice.
The bills were passed for second reading without debate after the House suspended its rules to expedite the process, reflecting the urgency of constitutional reforms ahead of upcoming elections.
Next, the bills will be referred to the Constitution Review Committee for detailed analysis and public hearings before final passage. Ultimately, amendments require approval by two-thirds of the 36 states and the President’s assent to become law.
This legislative milestone marks a significant step toward comprehensive constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic governance, electoral integrity, and institutional effectiveness.