Reps to begin zonal public hearing on constitution review next week

The House of Representatives Special Committee on Constitution Review has fixed Tuesday and Wednesday next week for its zonal public hearing billed to take place across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the committee, Ahmed Wase, noted that each zone will have two centres.

Wase urged Nigerians, including members of the executive and judicial bodies, traditional institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, and professional bodies, among other stakeholders to attend the hearing in their respective zones.

In his words, “I am appealing to you all to think only about Nigeria and work for Nigeria and ensure we deliver for our country the best Constitution”.

He explained that the members of the committee would be posted outside their zones to have a feeling of what was obtainable in other regions.

“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”, the  Deputy Speaker said.

Wase further explained that the hearing for the north-central zone would hold in Jos – with Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States, as well as Abuja in attendance, while Lokoja would serve as the second centre, hosting Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.

The venues of the hearing in other regions are listed below:

North East – Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe (Bauchi Centre); Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe (Yola Centre)

North West – Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto (Birnin Kebbi Centre); Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa (Kano Centre – June 2 and 3).

South East – Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi (Enugu Centre); while Imo and Abia (Owerri Centre).

South West – Ondo, Ekiti and Osun (Akure Centre); Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun (Lagos Centre).

South South – Delta, Bayelsa and Edo (Asaba Centre – June 2 and 3); Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River (Uyo Centre – June 1 and 2).