Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, has highlighted that the ongoing constitutional review process prioritizes state creation, state police, and other significant issues. In an interview, Agbese praised the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, for his outstanding leadership and innovative approach to the review.
Agbese noted that the Kalu-led committee has embraced a citizen-driven strategy, engaging diverse stakeholders and seeking input from Nigerians across the country. He emphasized that these efforts have enriched the review process and fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among the populace.
“We consequently identified critical stakeholders in various sectors to interface with us, provide their insight and guide us through the process. These efforts have not only enhanced the review process but also fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among Nigerians.”
“The committee has set a timeline for themselves and is aggressively working on areas of concern to Nigerians, such as state creation, state police, local government autonomy, and contradictions in local government election and autonomy and funding for the judiciary,” he said.
Agbese assured that the committee will keep its promise of concluding the process before December 2025.
“We are trying to amend the constitution and not create further problems for the nation.”
“We want a constitution that is as flexible as possible and would strengthen our institutions. We strongly believe that we can have a constitution that will not only unite us but will also give a sense of nationhood to our citizens,” he said.