Constitution Review: Senate Fixes Zonal Public Hearing For May 27, 28

Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ovie
Omo-Agege, on Tuesday, said the much-awaited zonal public hearing
on the review of the 1999 Constitution would hold from May 26 to
27.

Omo-Agege, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, said the event would
simultaneously hold across 12 state capitals in Nigeria, with two
public hearings per geopolitical zone.

He added that a national public hearing is expected to hold in
Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to the statement, Omo-Agege made the remarks when he
played host to members of the Legal Defence and Assistance Project
(LEPAD) in his office.

The group was led by its National Coordinator, Chino Obiagwu
(SAN).

The Deputy President of the Senate pointed out that while Jos
and Minna would host the public hearings in the North Central
Geopolitical Zone that of North East and North West would hold in
Bauchi and Gombe as well as Kaduna and Sokoto respectively.

Similarly, that of southeast would hold in Owerri and Enugu,
even as South-South and southwest would be hosted in Port Harcourt
and Asaba as well as Akure and Lagos respectively.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the Delta
Central lawmaker assured that women’s interests in the new
Constitution Review would be protected.

On the inclusion of Affirmative Action in the constitution, he
called on the group to reach out to elected representatives and
groups from other geopolitical zones in the country, noting that
they were key in determining if such demands could scale through in
the ongoing constitution amendment exercise.

“You will have also observe that on each of the Constitution
Review that has been done in the past, Affirmative Action and
increased women representation have always been on the agenda. But
in the past we have not been able to muster the numbers required to
effect constitutional change.

“However, in every exercise, we have seen increasing numbers of
legislators support the process. So, the challenge is how to reach
the critical threshold during this process.

“Your work is quite cut out for you. But rest assured that we
are partners in this business,” he said.

Earlier, Obiagwu called for increased women’s participation in
politics.

According to him, the group has already submitted six proposals
to the panel, explaining that if passed, women would occupy their
rightful place in both elective and appointive positions in the
country.

“We solicit your support and leverage on your influence in
advocating for a constitutional amendment and other legal reforms
geared towards increasing women’s political participation in
Nigeria,” he said.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ovie
Omo-Agege, on Tuesday, said the much-awaited zonal public hearing
on the review of the 1999 Constitution would hold from May 26 to
27.

Omo-Agege, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, said the event would
simultaneously hold across 12 state capitals in Nigeria, with two
public hearings per geopolitical zone.

He added that a national public hearing is expected to hold in
Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to the statement, Omo-Agege made the remarks when he
played host to members of the Legal Defence and Assistance Project
(LEPAD) in his office.

The group was led by its National Coordinator, Chino Obiagwu
(SAN).

The Deputy President of the Senate pointed out that while Jos
and Minna would host the public hearings in the North Central
Geopolitical Zone that of North East and North West would hold in
Bauchi and Gombe as well as Kaduna and Sokoto respectively.

Similarly, that of southeast would hold in Owerri and Enugu,
even as South-South and southwest would be hosted in Port Harcourt
and Asaba as well as Akure and Lagos respectively.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the Delta
Central lawmaker assured that women’s interests in the new
Constitution Review would be protected.

On the inclusion of Affirmative Action in the constitution, he
called on the group to reach out to elected representatives and
groups from other geopolitical zones in the country, noting that
they were key in determining if such demands could scale through in
the ongoing constitution amendment exercise.

“You will have also observe that on each of the Constitution
Review that has been done in the past, Affirmative Action and
increased women representation have always been on the agenda. But
in the past we have not been able to muster the numbers required to
effect constitutional change.

“However, in every exercise, we have seen increasing numbers of
legislators support the process. So, the challenge is how to reach
the critical threshold during this process.

“Your work is quite cut out for you. But rest assured that we
are partners in this business,” he said.

Earlier, Obiagwu called for increased women’s participation in
politics.

According to him, the group has already submitted six proposals
to the panel, explaining that if passed, women would occupy their
rightful place in both elective and appointive positions in the
country.

“We solicit your support and leverage on your influence in
advocating for a constitutional amendment and other legal reforms
geared towards increasing women’s political participation in
Nigeria,” he said.