The Nigerian Senate has launched public hearings to review the 1999 Constitution, starting with the South-West zone in Lagos on Friday.
The two-day event at Water Crest Hotel will gather opinions on key issues like state police, local government autonomy, and electoral reforms. Similar hearings are being held nationwide, except in the North-West where proceedings were postponed following the death of Kano businessman Aminu Dantata.
At the Lagos session, stakeholders debated proposals to reshape Nigeria’s governance structure. While some delegates pushed for creating new states, others argued against further dividing existing ones.
The discussions also covered fiscal policies and resource control, revealing clear divisions among participants about how to reform the country’s federal system.
In a related development, the House of Representatives advanced a bill to provide free internet access in public places. The proposed law, which passed its second reading, aims to bridge the digital divide and improve access to government services. It has now been sent to the ICT committee for further review.
Senate leaders stressed that only proposals with broad national support will move forward. The constitutional review committee plans to complete all zonal hearings within weeks before drafting potential amendments.
