Calls For Equity, Restructuring Dominate Southeast Constitution Review Hearing

Over the weekend, the city of Enugu hosted the Southeast Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The two-day event, organized by the Nigerian Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, brought together lawmakers, legal experts, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and other key stakeholders from across the five southeastern states.

Senator Austin Akobundu, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, led a strong delegation of Southeast senators to the public hearing. Other senators in attendance included Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South), and Senator Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East), among others.

In his opening remarks, Senator Austin Akobundu emphasized the historical importance of the constitution review process, describing it as a “critical opportunity to address long-standing structural issues and strengthen the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.”

“This is not just a legislative exercise,” Akobundu said. “It is a people-driven process that must reflect the true yearnings and aspirations of our constituents across the Southeast. We must be bold in confronting the limitations of the current constitution and visionary in crafting a more inclusive and functional framework.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a ranking member of the Senate and a vocal advocate for constitutional reforms, called for a more federated Nigeria, urging the committee to give serious attention to issues of resource control, devolution of powers, and the creation of additional states in the Southeast.

“The Southeast has only five states compared to other regions with six or more,” Abaribe stated. “This imbalance affects our representation, our development, and our voice in the federal structure. It must be corrected as a matter of equity and justice.”

The hearing also featured submissions from civil society groups, youth leaders, and legal experts. Mrs. Amaka Umeh, representing a coalition of women’s organizations, urged the committee to enshrine stronger gender equality provisions in the constitution and to address barriers to women’s political participation.

“We cannot talk about constitutional reform without making room for the full inclusion of women and marginalized groups,” Umeh said. “A revised constitution must protect the rights of every Nigerian, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.”

Chief Emmanuel Eze, a respected traditional ruler from Ebonyi State, stressed the importance of community-based governance and advocated for constitutional recognition of traditional institutions as partners in grassroots development.

Meanwhile, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah spoke on the need to enhance security in the Southeast through state policing. He said the centralized policing structure had failed to effectively protect lives and property in many parts of the country.

“Security must be localized,” Ubah argued. “Our people are suffering, and we need a structure that understands the local terrain, language, and dynamics. A constitution that permits state police is long overdue.”

The Enugu session was part of a nationwide series of zonal hearings held concurrently across five geopolitical zones, with the exception of the Northwest, whose session is scheduled for a later date due to logistical delays.

The Senate Committee on Constitution Review is expected to collate all submissions from the zonal hearings and incorporate them into a draft amendment bill, which will undergo further debate and approval processes in the National Assembly.

As the hearing concluded, participants echoed a shared sentiment: that the time for transformative constitutional change in Nigeria is now—and the Southeast must be fully represented in the process.