The Nigerian Senate has announced the postponement of the North-West zonal public hearing on the constitutional review process, in honour of the late elder statesman and renowned philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who recently passed away in Saudi Arabia.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during Tuesday’s plenary session, paying tribute to Dantata’s impactful legacy in national development and philanthropy. In a solemn moment, lawmakers observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Akpabio explained that the decision followed consultations with stakeholders in the North-West zone. A new date for the hearing will be announced after the return of Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau from Saudi Arabia.
Despite the postponement in the North-West, the Senate confirmed that the scheduled constitution review hearings in five other geopolitical zones will proceed as planned on July 4 and 5, 2025. These include:
Lagos (South-West)
Enugu (South-East)
Ikot Ekpene (South-South)
Jos (North-Central)
Maiduguri (North-East)
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who also chairs the Constitution Review Committee, emphasized that the hearings aim to give citizens a voice in key national reforms.
Among the key proposals up for discussion are:
Full autonomy for local government councils
Creation of a National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC)
Establishment of state police and security councils
Comprehensive fiscal governance reforms
Additionally, six fiscal-related bills will be reviewed, including measures to strengthen the powers of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and to enforce strict deadlines for submitting federal and state budgets.
The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive governance and public participation in shaping Nigeria’s constitutional future.
