Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barawu has revealed that the revised draft of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution will be ready and forwarded to state assemblies for approval before the end of 2025.

Barawu, who heads the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, was represented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele at the conclusion of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing held in Lagos. He emphasized that the hearings were not ceremonial but a legal and democratic step to ensure citizens’ voices are included in the amendment process.

During the event, citizens from the South-West region pushed for several key reforms—among them the creation of new states, introduction of state police, local government autonomy, judicial and electoral changes, and dedicated legislative seats for women.

Barawu explained that the review process is intentionally rigorous, requiring participation from both the National Assembly and state houses of assembly to protect the integrity of the constitution. He assured that the people’s input would be reflected in the final proposal.

The Speakers of South-West state assemblies also pledged their support. Ogun State Speaker, Daisi Elemide, said the region stands behind legislative autonomy, local government independence, and the establishment of state police. He added that traditional rulers should also have constitutionally defined roles.

Meanwhile, Lagos State NLC Chairperson, Agnes Funmi-Sesi, warned against shifting labour issues from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list. She argued that doing so would allow states to control workers’ rights and wages, leading to potential exploitation, especially since many states still haven’t implemented the new national minimum wage introduced in 2024.

The Senate committee says it is committed to incorporating all public contributions and aims to submit the final amendment draft to state legislatures before the end of the year.