The House of Representatives resumed its plenary today, placing a strong emphasis on constitution amendments, electoral reforms, and local government autonomy.
The House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., shared key legislative priorities in a statement on Monday, highlighting the expectation of receiving the 2025 Appropriation Bill from the executive.
This submission, he noted, is critical to maintaining the January–December budget cycle, a practice introduced during the review of the 2024 budget through public town hall meetings.
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Rotimi Jr. emphasized that the House is determined to proceed with key legislative tasks, particularly around constitutional review, which he described as fundamental to Nigeria’s democracy.
The House Committee on Constitution Review, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, aims to complete its work on the Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution by December 2025.
He revealed that the committee has received over 300 memoranda from the public, reflecting a broad engagement with the ongoing review process.
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Electoral reforms are also a top priority for the House. Rotimi Jr. explained that amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 are necessary to address ambiguities and contradictions in the law.
The legislative body plans to establish mechanisms for continuous electoral law reviews, ensuring they remain relevant and in line with global standards.
A town hall on electoral reforms held in November 2023 will serve as a foundation for further efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.
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In response to the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, the House will introduce bills to align existing laws with the new reality.
These reforms are essential for granting local councils greater financial and operational independence, thereby enhancing their capacity to deliver essential services at the grassroots level.
Additionally, the House intends to clarify the roles of local governments in security matters and streamline their electoral processes to reduce conflicts and inefficiencies.
Looking ahead, Rotimi Jr. mentioned that the House anticipates an executive bill on Whistleblower Protection, following recent policy statements from Finance Minister Wale Edun.
This initiative, aligned with the House’s legislative agenda, seeks to strengthen governance and national security by enhancing anti-corruption measures and improving revenue generation.
