Constitution review: Reps begin zonal public hearing June 1

The House of Representatives Special Committee on Constitution Review has fixed Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd June 2021 for its zonal public hearing scheduled to take place across the six geo-political zones.

The Committee therefore, invited the general public, executive and judicial bodies, traditional institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, professional bodies and all other stakeholders.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is also the Chairman of the Special Committee, Ahmed Idris Wase in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Puma said each zone would have two centres.

The Committee Chairman further stated that the North Central zone public hearing would hold in Jos, with Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa States and FCT, in attendance, while Lokoja will serve as the second centre for Kogi, Niger and Kwara States.

“The North East has Bauchi as centre, which is made up of Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, while Yola centre has Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states.

“The North West centre is in Birnin Kebbi, with Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states, while Kano centre will hold on 2nd and 3rd June, for Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states.

“The South East which has Enugu as centre, will host Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States, while Owerri centre will host Imo and Abia states.

The South-West with a centre in Akure, will host Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States, while Lagos centre will host Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States.

The South-South zone will hold in Asaba centre on 2nd and 3rd June comprising Delta, Bayelsa and Edo states, while Uyo centre holds on 1st and 2nd June for Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River States.

The Deputy Speaker appealed to the members of the committee to always put Nigeria first. “I’m appealing to you all to think only about Nigeria and work for Nigeria and ensure we deliver for our country the best constitution.”

He revealed that the members of the Committee will be posted outside their zones to have a feeling of what is obtainable in other geopolitical zones.

“We have an opportunity to write our names in gold. Let us not waste this golden opportunity as all eyes are on us,. We must ensure that we do not betray the confidence Nigerians have in us,” he said.