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National Assembly to Send Constitution Amendment Report to State Assemblies by Year-End

Published by Akinwale Fakinlede on July 7th, 2025.

This development was confirmed by key members of the constitutional review committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives. According to them, the review process—focused on strengthening democratic institutions and enhancing the structure of governance—is nearing completion after months of consultations and deliberations.

Progress on the Amendment Process

The constitutional amendment is a periodic legislative exercise aimed at addressing critical issues in the 1999 Constitution, which many have described as outdated and in need of substantial reform. This latest review targets several areas, including:

Devolution of powers from the federal government to states

Judicial reforms to improve access to justice

Strengthening local government autonomy

Electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and credible elections

Legislators revealed that the relevant committees have concluded most of their work, and the harmonized report will soon be presented to the National Assembly for adoption. Once approved, it will be transmitted to the state legislatures for consideration, in line with the constitutional requirement for state-level approval of any amendments.

Role of State Assemblies

For any proposed amendment to take effect, it must receive approval from at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly. This decentralized process ensures that constitutional changes reflect the will of the broader Nigerian federation rather than just the federal government.

Lawmakers have expressed confidence that state assemblies will treat the report with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, especially as many of the proposals stem from demands made during public hearings and consultations with civil society and intere

st groups.