•Tinubu and Nigerian Constitution
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent assurance that he was committed to the current review of the Nigerian Constitution may have inspired optimism in some Nigerians but quite a number of others still react to the ongoing review with cynicism.
The outcome of past reviews which failed to address critical agitations, especially fiscal federalism, state police and other aspects of decentralisation has created crisis of confidence in the National Assembly which is yet again supervising the present exercise, reports Sunday Independent.
Since the return to democracy about 26 years ago through the 1999 Constitution, several attempts have been made by the National Assembly to amend this all-important document.
So far, the current process is the fifth attempt at Constitutional Alteration of the Constitution since 1999.
Section 9 of the Constitution stipulates that the “National Assembly can only pass an Act to amend the constitution when its proposal to amend the constitution has been supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each chamber and is approved by the resolution of at least 24 Houses of Assembly of the States.
Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, a public affairs commentator and an apostle of good governance, one of those who spoke to our correspondent on the current attempt to amend the constitution, said that since 1999, constitutional reform in Nigeria has been more of an endless debate than a transformative exercise.
Dr Akinyemi, Convener of The Apostolic Round Table (ART), stated that a huge amount estimated at over ₦50 billion across multiple assemblies, had been spent on reviews, retreats, and committees, with little to show.
He stated: “Multiple amendment attempts —whether under Obasanjo’s third-term era, Jonathan’s 2014 Confab aftermath, or Buhari’s piecemeal reviews— have largely produced cosmetic changes: financial autonomy for some state institutions, tweaks to election timelines, and token recognition of local government.
“The core issues — true federalism, state police, devolution of powers, gender equity, and citizenship rights — remain untouched.
“The National Assembly, though central to the process, has too often been self-serving, prioritising political survival over nation-building. Their efforts show diligence in procedure, but little courage in substance.
“I would rate their contribution as modest in form, but weak in impact. Real reform requires statesmanship, not legislative ritual.”
Chief Martin Onovo, a seasoned politician and a petroleum sector player, stated that the attempts at constitutional amendments are inappropriate, deceitful, wasteful and political.
Onovo, the 2015 presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), stated that the constitutional amendments so far, are calculated to deceive the people by blaming the Constitution for the failures of the incompetent, unpatriotic and corrupt rulers.
Onovo, current Head, Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), stated: “From about 1983 when the great Prof. Achebe published his book, ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’, till date, all competent and ethical intellectuals, including Chief Rotimi Williams, QC, SAN; the Hon. Justice Muhammed Uwaiz, etc. have agreed that the problem is failure of leadership.
“Why do we wish to ignore the accurate and validated diagnosis and pursue wasteful constitutional amendments?
“Why do we wish to make new laws for dictatorial and lawless rulers that have disregarded all our laws?
“The Constitution of Nigeria prohibits corruption, but corruption remains systemic. So, do we want amendments that promote corruption, or are these attempts at constitutional amendments also corrupt?
“The Constitution of Nigeria requires education to at least school certificate level for presidential candidates.
“How is Jagaban Tinubu, without basic education, parading himself in Aso Rock? How is the same Jagaban Tinubu in Aso Rock in violation of Section 137, 1a, considering that, ‘he voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria (Guinea)?
“If you look at the Lagos coastal road contract, it violates all relevant laws, including the Procurement Act; the 2024 Appropriation Act; the constitutional prohibition against corruption, and the constitutional Oath of Office.
“So, the lawlessness is clear and the attempts at constitutional amendments are wasteful until the issue of lawlessness is addressed.”
Hon. Charles C. Anike, National President of Eastern Union (EU), said the issue of constitutional reforms and amendments in Nigeria is an illusion because the present day political actors across the country are very comfortable with the military constitution superimposed on the citizens.
According to him, “Since the return of what we term democracy today, there has never been any conscious or genuine intentions to review the constitution.
“We have always said that the 1999 Constitution, with all its amendments, is nothing, but the continuation of military dictatorship and decrees. It was not drafted by the representative Nigerians by legitimacy.”
Anike stated that both the past and the present National Assembly are largely products of illegitimate constitution and have always done their best to maintain the status quo, but also pretentiously wasting public resources in hypocrisy.
“Otherwise what and what have they amended ever since. The truth is the country is still under a disguised military hostage by military retirees with their civilian collaborators.
According to him, “With the 1999 Constitution still in place, the country can never record any meaningful achievement.”
Bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, an economist and public affairs commentator, noted that the National Assembly has embarked on a series of public hearings to review the 1999 Constitution focusing on federal restructuring, local government autonomy, state police and national security
Dr Ekechukwu stressed: “The proposed amendments are granting financial independence to local governments, establishing state and community police system and ensuring representation for women and persons with disability in governance, electoral reforms and devolution of powers.
“The reforms, so far, lack public participation. Proposed amendment will face the huddle of being ratified by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly, a very challenging and taxing process.
“All together the National Assembly has passed, or amended 108 laws, including Students’ Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act and Tax Reform Act.
“The Tax Reform Act, which will come into effect from January 2026, is expected to boost investors’ confidence and foster economic growth, potentially raising GDP from $363.8billion to $Trillion by 203.
“The major challenge and setback to Senator Akpabio’s 10th Senate include lack of meaningful opposition. It is a rubber stamp senate.
“Matters that are to be determined by robust debate and voting end up with manipulated voice votes.”
Dr Victor Mathew, a security expert, said that many people believe that the main problem of Nigeria, as presently constituted, is the nation’s constitution which was handed to Nigerians by the military.
Mathew, the Executive Director, Kingdom Advocacy Network (KAN), stated: “I also align myself with this school of thought and I have studiously been following attempts at constitutional reforms from the Obasanjo administration.
“Our operation of a federal system as it is presently constituted can be best described as quasi federalism because power is still concentrated at the centre.
“Constitutional amendments, if I am to score, are a little above 30 percent. The pace has been very slow and sluggish.
“Core areas like Resource Control, State Police are yet to be touched. Though we have had areas like electricity generation and distribution taken off the Exclusive List, tax reforms, etc, they are not far reaching enough.
“The National Assembly, as the face of democracy, is supposed to be at the forefront of the needed constitutional amendments, but it has not lived up to expectations.”
Among the top priorities of the National Assembly as they resume after their recess, is the ongoing review and amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
The amendment is being spearheaded by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who chairs the 47-member Senate Constitution Review Committee.
In the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, chairs the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution.
Kalu had announced that the lower chamber is working toward concluding the amendment process by December 2025.
According to Kalu, more than 200 bills are currently being considered by the House.
These cover reforms, ranging from gender equality and inclusive governance to fiscal federalism, judicial reforms, and devolution of powers.
