As the process of reviewing the 1999 Constitution continues, particularly across Nigeria’s geo-political zones, the National Assembly has pledged to forward the final report of the ongoing constitutional review to the 36 state Houses of Assembly before December 2025, in line with its schedule. The National Assembly, however, urged all stakeholders with specific proposals to actively engage and lobby their respective state assemblies, stressing that the review cannot be completed without their consent. Speaking on Saturday after the two-day zonal public hearing on the constitution review held at the Water Crest Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, the Leader of the Senate and Zonal Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), highlighted key issues that have consistently dominated discussions since the start of constitutional amendments in the Fourth Republic. These include devolution of powers, local government autonomy, creation of new states, and establishment of state police. According to a statement from Bamidele’s media office, other senators present at the public hearing included Deputy Minority Leader Senator Olarere Oyewunmi; Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Banigo; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Olajide Ipinsangba; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, among others. Addressing participants, Bamidele reaffirmed that the review committee plans to transmit its report to the state assemblies before December 2025. “We have concluded the public hearings and will now return to Abuja to compile our report. Our timetable provides for final notifications before year-end, after which we’ll send the report to all state assemblies, thus completing this phase of the constitution review,” he said. He dismissed criticisms that the exercise is a mere formality, emphasizing instead that it aims to introduce meaningful reforms to promote national prosperity, better governance, and sustainable development. Bamidele also cautioned that the National Assembly’s effort could fail if the proposed amendments are not approved by at least two-thirds of the state assemblies. He therefore urged stakeholders nationwide to intensify lobbying efforts to secure the necessary endorsements. While assuring that the National Assembly will process all received proposals and transmit them accordingly, Bamidele called on stakeholders to continue active engagement with state lawmakers to ensure the proposed amendments are adopted into the Constitution. “State assemblies are part of the process. We have been in Lagos State in the last 48 hours, listening to people’s aspirations, concerns and will. All six states in the geo-political zone were represented by their elected representatives. We are in this process together to receive their presentations. “The state assemblies are already anticipating the report of the constitution review from the National Assembly. They are not waiting for the report alone. They are also part of the constitution review process. I do not envisage any problem from the state assemblies. “Therefore, we are advising all the stakeholders who are also looking for special considerations to extend their advocacies to the state assemblies. It is not just about them as elected representatives, but as representatives of people who elected them. People should be aware when they are making decisions to be sure that they are also doing so in consonance with the wishes of their constituents.” Also at the public hearing, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker, Oyo State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin solicited for more power to be devolved to subnational governments for rapid and accelerated development. Ogundoyin, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, said both federal and state governments should be allowed to legislate on issues that border on solid minerals, labour matters, drug and poisons, telecommunications, stamp duty amongst others. He said: “Devolution of powers is key to this on-going constitutional amendment by devolving key items from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List in the interest of all. For instance, the removal of the electricity matter from the Exclusive Legislative List has significantly transformed many states’ power sector through independent power supply initiatives. “ Ogundoyin also backed the establishment of state police, pointing its benefits to include improved local security, community policing, decongestion of federal responsibilities, enhanced accountability and employment opportunities. The speaker said: “Concerning the state police, all the stakeholders will agree with me that the debate over the establishment of state policing has garnered momentum from both supporters and critics. The potential benefits of state police far outweigh the challenges. “In essence, what the amendment seeks to address will be the powers, responsibilities and limits of the state police should be clearly defined, provide oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse and design a comprehensive framework for federal and state police to work in harmony to balance power and for effective coordination mechanisms.”