House of Representatives to Vote on 37 Constitutional Amendment Bills Today

By Emmanuel Kwada

The House of Representatives is set to take a major step in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review process as lawmakers prepare to vote on 37 constitutional amendment bills aimed at reshaping key aspects of governance, elections, security, the judiciary, local government administration, human rights, and traditional institutions.

The proposed amendments, which cut across several sectors, are among the most far-reaching constitutional reforms considered by the National Assembly in recent years. The bills seek to address long-standing concerns about electoral integrity, judicial efficiency, security challenges, local government autonomy, gender inclusion, and institutional accountability.

Among the key electoral reform proposals is a bill seeking to introduce independent candidacy for presidential, governorship, legislative, and local government elections. The measure would allow qualified Nigerians to contest elections without political party affiliation, subject to verification requirements by electoral bodies.

Another electoral bill seeks to strengthen State Independent Electoral Commissions by introducing stricter eligibility criteria for members and granting them greater operational independence. Lawmakers will also consider a proposal to establish an Electoral Offences Commission empowered to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes.

In the judiciary, the House will vote on bills designed to reduce the workload of the Supreme Court, expedite the resolution of election petitions, and allow judges elevated to higher courts to conclude part-heard criminal cases within a specified period. Proponents argue that the measures will improve judicial efficiency and reduce delays in the administration of justice.

Security reforms feature prominently in the amendment package, with one of the most anticipated bills seeking constitutional backing for the establishment of state police. Another proposal aims to guarantee financial independence for the Armed Forces by placing military funding on a first-line charge of the Federation Account.

Local government reforms also occupy a significant portion of the amendment agenda. The bills seek to formally recognize local governments as a distinct tier of government, strengthen accountability mechanisms through independent auditors-general, and enhance administrative autonomy at the grassroots level.

Citizenship and inclusion issues are addressed through proposals that would grant equal citizenship rights to foreign spouses of Nigerians, introduce citizenship by investment, and create additional temporary legislative seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies.

Other bills focus on strengthening legislative institutions, setting timelines for budget presentation, safeguarding the tenure of presiding officers of state assemblies, and removing certain transitional law-making powers from the executive arm of government.

The proposed amendments further seek to devolve powers by moving tourism-related matters to the Concurrent Legislative List, expand constitutional protections for children, prohibit the public parade of criminal suspects as a form of degrading treatment, and guarantee the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment.

Additional measures would enhance transparency in public finance by requiring government agencies to submit audited financial statements within stipulated timelines and mandating the public release of Auditor-General reports. Other proposals include increasing representation on the Federal Civil Service Commission, guaranteeing legislative representation for every local government area in state assemblies, separating the qualification status of governors from that of their deputies, and providing constitutional recognition and funding frameworks for traditional institutions.

The outcome of today’s vote is expected to determine which of the proposed amendments will proceed to the next stage of the constitutional alteration process, a development that could significantly influence Nigeria’s political, legal, and governance landscape in the years ahead.