By Suleiman Abdulmumin
In a significant outing at the North Central Zonal Public Hearing on the ongoing constitutional review, the Ajaokuta State Assembly representative, Hon. Jibril Abu, joined his colleagues from the Kogi State House of Assembly as part of the legislative delegation led by Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, the Speaker of the House.
The hearing, held in Minna, Niger State, formed part of a broader national engagement process coordinated by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR. It brought together stakeholders from Kogi, Kwara, and Niger States to deliberate on the proposed 86 Constitution Alteration Bills, structured across 13 thematic areas.
The Kogi delegation, which included lawmakers such as Hon. Tijani Shehu Ebaiya (Lokoja I) and Hon. Salifu (Ofu), was received with warm legislative camaraderie by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, under the auspices of the Niger State Governor, Rt. Hon. Umar Bago.
When asked about his position on the ongoing constitutional reforms, Hon. Jibril Abu, in his usual calm and thoughtful tone, had this to say:
“It is my duty to follow up on issues that concern Ajaokuta and LGAs like it. We must not just restructure for structure’s sake—we must reform in a way that truly empowers the grassroots. Local governments should be fully autonomous and able to deliver development directly to the people.”
He further emphasized the importance of practical reforms in areas such as:
-Local Government Autonomy
-Functional State Police Structures
-Fair Recognition of Underserved LGAs
-Evolution of Power to Sub-national Units
-Greater Inclusivity in Governance
“Ajaokuta and several other LGAs deserve to be more than just a mention in the Constitution. They must become active, empowered engines of governance and development,” he added.
Hon. Jibril Abu’s views closely align with the broader position earlier presented by Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State through the Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice, Muiz Yinus Abdullahi, SAN, which emphasized unity, decentralization of power, and the welfare of the average Nigerian. That vision was re-echoed in the goodwill message from the 8th Kogi State Assembly, delivered by Speaker Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf.
Stakeholders present included Kogi State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Sunday Faleke, representatives from the Judiciary, Traditional Rulers, Women and Youth Groups, Professional Associations, and Civil Society Organizations—each bringing forward critical inputs on how to move Nigeria’s constitutional framework forward.
The Constitution Review Committee has committed to using the feedback from the public hearings to guide final amendments before they are brought to the National Assembly for consideration.
The North Central hearings conclude on Sunday, July 13, with the Southern zones following from July 18–20, and the National Public Hearing scheduled for July 21, 2025, in Abuja.
Constituents are encouraged to download and study the Constitution Review Compendium at bit.ly/HCCRCompendium, and then do well to submit feedback via www.hccr.gov.ng.