Revision of the Constitution: the genius of Kalu, the commitment of the members responsible for enormous progress – insists the spokesperson of the committee of representatives

Revision of the Constitution: the genius of Kalu, the commitment of the members responsible for enormous progress – insists the spokesperson of the committee of representatives

The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution has attributed the remarkable progress recorded in the ongoing amendment process to the leadership acumen of its Chairman, Vice President, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and the unwavering commitment of the members of the committee.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the spokesperson of the Committee, Hon. Philip Agbese, commended the Vice President for bringing intellectual depth, inclusiveness and vision to the process, describing him as a “brilliant reformer whose leadership inspired confidence in the Constitution Review Committee”.

Agbese said the House, under the leadership of President Abbas Tajudeen, is determined to promptly deliver a people-oriented constitution that reflects the aspirations of Nigerians across all regions and social classes.

“The Honorable Benjamin Kalu’s brilliance, foresight and managerial expertise have been the major driving forces behind the tremendous progress we have achieved so far.

“From day one, he established a clear roadmap, built consensus across party lines and ensured that every member of the committee was meaningfully committed to the task of giving Nigeria a workable constitution.

“So far the Committee has been able to meet the deadlines set for the execution of its task,” he said.

The lawmaker, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, further noted that the work of the committee was characterized by a rare level of seriousness and collaboration.

“Our members are fully committed and patriotic in their approach. They all understand the weight of responsibility we carry on behalf of Nigerians. The strong participation we have witnessed from legislators, experts, civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic community, political parties and citizens has been unprecedented,” he said.

Agbese explained that the committee received hundreds of memoranda from stakeholders, including state governments, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and professional bodies, addressing key areas such as devolution of powers, special seats for women in parliament, state police, gender equality and electoral reforms, among others.

He added that the committee’s state, zonal and national public hearings, as well as technical sessions, were structured to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and broad input from Nigerians.

“Vice President Kalu has shown exceptional leadership in ensuring that this process is not Abuja-centric. Nigerians from every part of the country have had the opportunity to make their voices heard. This is why there is renewed public confidence in the process of reviewing the Constitution,” Agbese said.

He assured that the commission will maintain momentum and deliver a comprehensive report that will stand the test of time, adding that the next phase will focus on harmonizing inputs on the various legislative proposals for a final report to be presented to the House for vote.

“Our goal is to give Nigerians a constitution that truly works for them, a document that deepens democracy, promotes equity and strengthens national unity,” Agbese stressed.

He commended President Abbas Tajudeen for providing the necessary institutional support and described the synergy between the leadership of both houses of the National Assembly as an important catalyst for the progress made so far.

“With the kind of leadership and dedication we have seen, Nigerians can hope that this revision of the constitution will not go like previous ones. It will be a revision that will leave a lasting legacy,” Agbese said.

It would be recalled that the Constitution Review Committee held a national public hearing in Abuja on September 22 as part of the series of public engagements by the committee to seek input from Nigerians and all critical stakeholders in the Constitution review process.