House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has called on the international community for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance to bolster the constitutional reform process for better outcomes.
The effort underscores the committee’s commitment to leveraging global expertise and best practices to inform Nigeria’s constitutional review.
Speaking at the Constitution Review Diplomatic Dinner themed “Constitution, Dialogue and National Renewal” held at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, Friday night, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting democratic values and facilitating the exchange of best practices in constitutional and legislative matters.
He said the collaboration will focus on three key areas which include study tours and legislative exchanges, technical resources and expertise, and inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Kalu said that the lawmakers hope to benefit from exposure to diverse constitutional models and legislative practices, gain valuable insights into alternative governance structures, and strengthen their engagement with parliamentary bodies in other countries.
He added that Parliament will also welcome technical assistance from foreign countries and international organizations in the form of expert consultations, research support, and capacity building for the committee members and staff, stressing it would strengthen their ability to craft constitutional amendments that reflect global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s unique challenges and aspirations.
He said: “Your Excellencies, the task of constitutional reform is not one we undertake in isolation. As we navigate this complex process, we recognize the immense value of international partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collaborative learning.
“Parliamentary diplomacy has emerged as a powerful tool for strengthening
international cooperation, promoting democratic values, enhancing mutual
understanding, and facilitating the exchange of best practices in
constitutional and legislative matters. It is in this spirit that we have convened
this dinner tonight to explore avenues for meaningful collaboration that can
enrich our constitutional review process.
“We seek your support and partnership in several key areas: Study Tours and Legislative Exchange; Technical Resources and Expertise and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation.
“We believe that exposure to diverse constitutional models and legislative
practices can significantly enhance our reform efforts. We invite your support
in facilitating study tours for our committee members to your respective countries to observe firsthand how similar constitutional issues have been addressed in different contexts.
“These exchanges would allow our lawmakers to gain valuable insights into
alternative governance structures, electoral systems, judicial frameworks,
and security architectures that might inform our own constitutional
amendments.
“Constitutional reform requires specialized knowledge and expertise across various domains, from federalism and devolution to judicial independence
and gender mainstreaming. We welcome technical assistance from your
countries and international organizations in the form of expert consultations,
research support, and capacity building for our committee members and
staff.
“We seek to strengthen our engagement with parliamentary bodies in your countries through formal and informal channels of cooperation. This could include bilateral relations between our parliaments, participation in international parliamentary institutions, and thematic exchanges focused on specific areas of constitutional reform.
“These cooperative frameworks would facilitate the sharing of legislative
experiences, procedural innovations, and policy approaches that could enrich our constitutional review process”.
The Deputy Speaker also emphasized that the approach to the constitutional review is founded on the principle of inclusive participation.
To this end, he said that the committee has a adopted a multi-stakeholder engagement strategy that include public hearings, stakeholder consultations, digital platforms and media engagement, reiterating that the deadline for the completion of the review process remains December, 2025.
“This inclusive approach reflects our commitment to a constitution that truly
represents the aspirations of the Nigerian people and addresses their most pressing concerns.
“Your Excellencies, we have set December 2025 as our deadline for completing the constitution review process. This timeline is deliberate, designed to ensure that we conclude our work before the commencement of electoral activities that might inadvertently affect the alteration process”, Kalu said.
Signed:
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
