Constitution Amendment: Zonal Hearings Will Be Inclusive, Senate Leader Assures

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has assured Nigerians that the forthcoming zonal public hearings on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution will be inclusive and participatory.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, gave the assurance in a midterm statement released to journalists yesterday.

“The Constitution Review Committee will soon commence zonal public hearings. We assure Nigerians that the process will be inclusive and participatory,” he said.

He emphasised the need for far-reaching constitutional reforms to correct long-standing structural imbalances in the federation and deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

The lawmaker further said the 10th Assembly has made significant legislative progress, but its vision goes beyond passing bills.

“Our legislative agenda goes beyond numbers,” Bamidele said. “It reflects the National Assembly’s expanded oversight responsibilities and its responsiveness to citizen concerns.”

According to him, between June 2023 and June 2025, a total of 983 bills were introduced, 477 in the first session and 506 in the second, marking a 6% increase. He further stated that bill passage rose more significantly by 232%, from 25 in the first session to 83 in the second, while Executive bills passed also doubled, from 13 to 26.

The Senate Leader also listed the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024 and the Tax Reform Bills, 2025 as key legislative highlights.

He disclosed that the student loan programme, administered through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has received over one million applications, with more than 500,000 students already benefitting.

“This is real progress in human capital development,” he said.

On economic legislation, Bamidele said the tax reform bills currently awaiting presidential assent are projected to enhance investor confidence and could grow Nigeria’s GDP from $363.8 billion to $1 trillion by 2030.

Responding to persistent criticism that the legislature is “rubber-stamping” executive actions, Bamidele defended the Senate, saying it is a strategy of constructive engagement.

“The adversarial posture of previous Assemblies often hampered governance,” he said. “This Assembly has pursued constructive engagement without compromising our constitutional independence.”

He also highlighted increased Senate oversight activities, with the number of petitions handled rising from 50 to 80 in the past year, and 215 executive appointments confirmed during the first session.

Looking ahead, Bamidele said the Senate would prioritise fiscal and monetary stability, infrastructure and security, and reducing inflation.

He also noted that electoral reform remains a top priority. “We must work together to build a political structure that reflects our aspirations and protects our democracy,” he said.

Reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to democratic deepening and national development, Bamidele called on citizens to actively participate in the ongoing legislative process.

“We are ready for the road ahead—and we invite all Nigerians to walk it with us,” he declared.