Nigeria’s House of Representatives advanced sweeping constitutional reforms Tuesday, approving 39 amendment bills in a landmark second reading.
The proposals aim to reshape governance, security, and electoral systems while addressing longstanding calls for inclusive representation and institutional accountability.
A key proposal mandates synchronized general elections for presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative offices to cut costs and simplify logistics.
Lawmakers actively supported decentralizing policing by empowering states and local governments to create independent security forces, effectively curbing violence.
In addition, legislators approved the establishment of an assembly for the Federal Capital Territory, proposing to elevate the Court of Appeal.
To combat political opportunism, legislative reforms mandate party executives’ resignation before seeking elected roles, enforcing tighter ethical standards as well.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission may gain authority to oversee local government polls, centralizing electoral oversight throughout Nigeria.
Simultaneously, lawmakers introduced inclusivity measures, reserving legislative seats for people with disabilities and creating six special House slots for marginalized groups.
Furthermore, financial accountability reforms advanced, planning to rename and empower the Auditor-General’s office and removing limitations on its oversight authority.
Additionally, lawmakers prioritized judicial efficiency by pushing to expand Supreme Court justices, thereby accelerating case resolutions and reflecting regional diversity.
Separately, a new regulatory body could oversee political party registrations, ensuring stricter compliance with democratic norms.
The reforms reflect a multipronged effort to modernize Nigeria’s governance amid public demands for transparency and equity. However, the bills must still pass third readings, harmonization with the Senate, and presidential assent before becoming law.
Civil society groups have praised the scope of changes but urge broader consultations to ensure reforms align with citizen needs. As debates intensify, stakeholders emphasize balancing legislative ambition with practical implementation to avoid unintended consequences.
This sweeping overhaul marks one of Nigeria’s most ambitious constitutional revision efforts in decades, testing lawmakers’ resolve to translate proposals into lasting democratic progress. Observers now await further deliberations, hopeful yet cautious about the reforms’ potential to reshape the nation’s political landscape.
