The House of Representatives has progressed with 39 constitutional amendment bills, each addressing critical aspects of governance, security, and electoral reforms in Nigeria. The bills, which recently passed their second reading, cover various sectors, including judicial reforms, legislative procedures, electoral matters, and inclusive governance.
These amendments are part of ongoing efforts to restructure key institutions, improve democratic processes, and ensure better service delivery at all levels of government. Below is a breakdown of some key bills under consideration
State and Local Government Police Bill: Seeks to establish state police and local government police forces to decentralize law enforcement and enhance grassroots security.
National Security Architecture Review Bill: Proposes a review of Nigeria’s security framework to improve inter-agency coordination and intelligence-sharing among security agencies.
Simultaneous Elections Bill: Mandates that all general elections (presidency, governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and local government councils) be held on the same day, as determined by INEC in consultation with the National Assembly.
INEC Oversight on Local Government Elections Bill: Seeks to empower INEC to conduct local government elections, eliminating state electoral commissions, which have been criticized for lack of transparency.
Election Petitions Appeal Deadline Bill: Proposes that all election tribunal appeals be concluded before the swearing-in of elected officials to prevent prolonged political disputes.
Electronic Voting and Transmission of Results Bill: Aims to entrench the electronic transmission of election results to enhance transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
Court of Appeal as Final Arbiter Bill: Proposes making the Court of Appeal the highest appellate court for governorship and legislative election petitions to decongest the Supreme Court.
National Assembly Inauguration Proclamation Bill: Seeks to empower the Chief Justice of Nigeria to proclaim the inauguration of the National Assembly in the event of a political impasse or delay.
FCT House of Assembly Bill: Proposes the creation of a legislative House of Assembly for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ensuring better governance and representation.
Judicial Autonomy Bill: Aims to strengthen the financial and administrative independence of the judiciary at both federal and state levels.
Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission Bill: Seeks to create an independent body responsible for registering, monitoring, and regulating political parties to promote accountability.
Defection Regulation Bill: Proposes amending Sections 68(1)(g) & 109(1)(g) to mandate that lawmakers officially resign from their political parties before defecting, reducing political instability.
National Local Government Electoral Commission Bill: Seeks to establish an independent electoral commission to conduct and supervise local government elections nationwide.
Special Legislative Seats for Persons with Disabilities Bill: Aims to reserve seats for physically challenged individuals at the federal, state, and local government levels to ensure political inclusion.
Youth and Women Representation Bill: Proposes constitutional provisions to guarantee minimum representation for youths and women in elective offices.
Public Servants Engagement in Healthcare and Education Bill: Seeks to allow public servants to engage in healthcare, education, and related service-oriented professions beyond agriculture.
Diaspora Voting Rights Bill: Aims to grant Nigerians in the diaspora the right to vote in national elections, enhancing participation in the country’s democratic process.
Revenue Allocation Formula Review Bill: Proposes a review of Nigeria’s revenue-sharing formula to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources among the federal, state, and local governments.
Local Government Autonomy Bill: Seeks to grant financial and administrative autonomy to local governments to enhance governance at the grassroots level.
Independent Candidacy Bill: Proposes constitutional backing for independent candidates to contest elections without party affiliation, broadening democratic participation.
These are just a selection of the 39 amendment bills currently under consideration. Collectively, they reflect a push to address longstanding governance challenges and introduce structural reforms that could impact Nigeria’s political, judicial, and security systems.
Despite their passage to the next Legislative stage, the bill were not debated in the House before being approved for further Legislative consideration.
If enacted, these amendment could significantly reshape Nigeria’s legal and governance framework, improving accountability, security, and democratic processes.
