On Tuesday, March 25, the House of Representatives successfully passed a series of constitutional amendments bills during the second reading, including proposals to create state and local government police and to establish special seats for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and special interest groups in the legislative process.
These amendments are part of 39 larger packages targeting judicial, legislative and electoral reforms, without debate. The bill attempts to make major changes to Nigeria’s constitutional framework, including allowing special legislative seats for PWD and other marginalized groups, as well as actions to establish state and local police forces.
The proposed amendment sparked discussions on the security and future of the country’s representatives. The bill calls for the establishment of state and local government police sponsored by Delta and Ekiti state legislators, which will introduce a new policing layer at the grassroots level. At the same time, the bill aims to increase legislative representation of special interest groups, including people with disabilities, and is seen as an important step towards greater political inclusion in Nigeria.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chaired the plenary, forwarded the bills to the Constitutional Review Committee for further consideration. This step marks the beginning of the legislative process, with the commission’s task of reviewing the bill before it can be brought back to the House for further discussion.
With potential changes in the country’s political landscape, these proposed amendments are expected to inspire ongoing debate on reforming the governance structure in Nigeria.
