North-west youths urge N’Assembly to fast-track constitutional amendment bills
North-west youths under the aegis of JESZ Development Foundation have expressed concern over what they described as the prolonged delay by the 10th National Assembly in passing pending constitutional review
North-west youths under the aegis of JESZ Development Foundation have expressed concern over what they described as the prolonged delay by the 10th National Assembly in passing pending constitutional review bills, urging lawmakers to expedite action on the process.
Addressing a conference in Kaduna, Zigwai Ayuba, Executive Director of JESZ Development Foundation, said the constitutional amendment exercise, which began in February 2024, still lacks a timeline for voting and transmitting the bills to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for concurrence.
She said they were particularly interested in amendments that would strengthen the electoral process, including the establishment of an electoral offences commission, provision for independent candidacy, expedited determination of election petitions before swearing-in of winners, and special seats for women in national and state legislatures.
The group that other proposed amendments covering security and policing, local government autonomy, judicial and fiscal reforms were equally critical to national development.
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The group aligned itself with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent call for constitutional changes to accommodate state police, quoting him as urging lawmakers to “start thinking about how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate state police” to enhance security across the country.
According to Ayuba, the delay in passing the bills could affect the implementation of provisions in the 2026 Electoral Act, particularly those relating to the timely resolution of election petitions.
The group therefore called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, alongside other lawmakers from the zone, to prioritise the passage of the pending bills.
“We urge our legislators in the north-west and their colleagues across the country to pass the constitutional review bills, especially those that seek to introduce an electoral offences commission, independent candidacy, and ensure election petitions are concluded before winners are sworn in,” she said.
The group also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties, and civil society organisations to support the push for what they described as youth-priority constitutional reforms.
They emphasized that the timely passage of the amendments would strengthen democratic governance, improve electoral integrity, and promote inclusive representation in Nigeria’s political system.
