By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate Committee on Review of 1999 Constitution will hold public hearings on the proposed constitution amendments between July 4 and July 5 in all the six geo-political zones of the country.

Chairman of the committee and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin, disclosed this through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, in Abuja on Sunday.

Barau said that the public hearings would hold simultaneously in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South- East), Ikot Ekpene (South -South, Jos (North- Central) Maiduguri, (North-East) and Kano (North- West).

According to him, the zonal public hearings are convened to gather the inputs of citizens on the proposed amendments to the country’s constitution.

He said that the public hearings would examine critical national issues, including local government autonomy, electoral and judicial reforms, state creation, state police and inclusive governance.

Barau said one of the bills proposed the establishment of local government councils as a tier of government to guarantee their democratic existence and tenure.

This, he said, was part of a renewed push for full autonomy for all the 774 local government councils in the country.

Barau said that the second bill on local government reforms sought to create an independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to organise, conduct and supervise local government elections.

“Also to be considered during the zonal public hearings are two bills on security and policing for the establishment of state police and state security council to coordinate internal security policies at the sub-national level.

“In the area of fiscal reforms, six bills are going to be considered, including the one to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance of remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from Federation Account,” he said.

The lawmaker further stated that a bill on fiscal reforms to alter the provisions of the constitution to specify period within which the president or governor of a state would present the appropriation bill before the national assembly or houses of assembly would be discussed at the hearing.

“The committee will also consider a bill to provide additional seats for women in the national and state houses of assembly.

“A bill for an act to alter the constitution to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers, the State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Local Government Council of Traditional Rulers will also be considered,” he said.

Barau said that a proposal for amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for independent candidacy at all levels of election would also be discussed.

“This is just as a bill for diaspora voting to enfranchise Nigerians abroad has been listed for consideration.

“The hearing will consider over 20 bills seeking to overhaul the country’s judiciary, including timelines for judgment delivery and expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals.

“Proposals have been made to transfer items like labour and shipping from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list,” he added.

The senator said that the committee would also discuss 31 proposals on state creation, with five requests each from the South-West, South-South and North-Central geo-political zones.

According to him, the committee has received seven requests from the north-east, six from the north-west and three from the south-east for state creation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Deborah Coker

Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) says actualising an Anioma State is within reach, advising the Anioma people to ignore detractors.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Saturday.

According to him, at this defining moment in the political and developmental journey of Anioma land, it is crucial for the people to remain focused, united, and visionary.

“Detractors, those who thrive on division, misinformation, and personal agendas must not be given room to derail the collective aspirations of Anioma.

“For decades, Anioma people have yearned for their own state; a place that reflects their identity, heritage, and need for equitable development.

“Today, with stronger political will and rising national conversations around state creation, the possibility is closer than ever.

“Listening to those who say it can’t be done or who seek to sabotage this vision is a disservice to the years of struggle and advocacy by Anioma’s founding leaders.”

The lawmaker noted that development doesn’t come overnight, adding that clear signs of progress were already visible.

“From improved representation at the national level to grassroots development efforts, Anioma is on the move. Detractors often attack what they cannot control or understand.

“Their aim is to distract the people from the real gains being made. This is the time to consolidate, not to allow envy and bitterness derail growth.

“Anioma’s strength lies in its unity. Detractors thrive in disunity because it weakens the collective voice. As we push for more federal recognition, development projects, lasting leadership, and internal cohesion is non-negotiable.

“When we stand together, no outsider or insider can divide our cause,” he said.

Nwoko further said the present generation has a chance to do what others only dreamt of.

“What legacy will Anioma leave behind? That we were distracted by petty politics, or that we stood firm and built a future for our children?

“Detractors will come and go but the impact of staying focused will last forever. Anioma people must be wise, discerning, and strong at this critical time.

“The path to greatness is never easy, and there will always be voices trying to pull us back. But our future is too important to gamble with.

“Let’s ignore the noise, hold on to the vision, and push forward—together. While detractors are busy spreading rumors, discrediting leaders, or promoting division, serious-minded Anioma sons and daughters are working day and night to move the region forward.

“Time spent arguing with saboteurs could be better used for planning, organising, and building. Let the detractors talk. Anioma must move forward,” the lawmaker stressed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Isaiah Eka

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday officially received Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom into the All Progressives Congress (APC) and promised more support to the government.

Speaking at a grand reception in honour of Eno in Uyo, Tinubu said that APC would provide the needed support for the governor to deliver democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom people.

Represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, Tinubu told Akwa Ibom people that the governor’s decision to join APC would be of immense benefit to the state.

“In APC we build bridges, and not walls. We mend fences, not destroying it. Our president is a bridge builder, your decision to join APC is one you can never regret.

“Be assured that you won’t be humiliated or forsaken, we are your brothers, we shall rise together. We are not an assemblage of politicians, we are a family.

“We will stand by you, as we stood by Godswill Akpabio, who went through fire because of our party. We are all with you, we shall succeed together,” he said.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said that the reception in honour of Eno was a reunification of the South-South states to the centre.

Akpabio said that Eno’s defection to APC was not just a defection but a movement to the progressive family, saying, “this move will bring more dividends of democracy to the state.

“What we have here today is not just a political movement, but political maturity. Eno has placed the peace and development of Akwa Ibom above party lines.

“We say welcome to the progressive family. We are convinced that you will add value and not only number to the family. We shall move from celebrations to collaborations.

“I see things turning around for good in Akwa Ibom, you are a man of your words, there is nothing anybody can do to you,” Akpabio said.

Earlier, Eno said that his move to APC was to align with the centre, and support Tinubu’s economic reform initiatives.

He said that the Ibom Deep Seaport project was part of his reasons for joining APC, and urged the president to support the state towards realising the project.

“We are not afraid to join APC, we know that with our new party, we will realise our Ibom Deep Seaport project, this is our plea.

“Akwa Ibom people look up to the president, we are hopeful that this movement will bring blessings to us,” Eno said.

He used the occasion to assure the president of Akwa Ibom peoples’ support to deliver democracy dividends to the nation and earn a second term in office.

Presenting APC flag to Eno, the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, described the governor as “wise and foresighted”.

Ganduje urged Eno to remain focussed and committed towards implementing people-oriented programmes in the state.

It would be recalled that on June 6, Eno who was elected governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, announced his defection to the ruling APC. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Azubuike Okeh

By Naomi Sharang

The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has declared its full support for President Bola Tinubu’s response to the recent killings in Benue.

Chairman of the PGF and Gov. of Imo, Hope Uzodimma, made this known to newsmen in Abuja, after a meeting with some progressive governors.

He said that the Forum stood united with the President in his resolve to end violent attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Tinubu had earlier on Wednesday, visited Benue to condole Gov. Hyacinth Alia over the killings in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “The Progressives Governors Forum is fully in support of President Tinubu’s position on the Benue killings”.

“We were in Benue State, first, to show solidarity to our colleague, the Governor of Benue State.

“To condole with him for that unfortunate incident and also, encourage Mr President in his efforts to address this situation in Benue State which continues to repeat itself.

“We are satisfied with the position of Mr President on his planned action to stop further killings and violence, not only in Benue State, but almost in every part of the country.

“Arising from that, we just rose from a meeting where we also discussed the state of the nation and the need for the sub-national governments to take security up to the rural communities.

“Henceforth, we must do everything, whatever it will take, to protect lives and property in Nigeria which is the primary essence of government”.

The governor also commended the President for all the strides and achievements he had recorded in two years.

“We are satisfied by the way he is going and in the very nearest future, Nigeria will come out of this and prosperity will become the order of the day.

“So we encourage all of us Nigerians and condole the families of those involved in the unfortunate incidents in the state and other parts of the country.

“And we are showing our people who voted us to power that we have buckled up and we have braced up.

“We are ensuring to provide to the security agencies everything that they require to ensure that every space, the governed and the ungoverned is adequately protected”.

On what is the Forum’s recommendation to the President, Uzodimma said “If you listened well to the President, he even recommended that he is willing to support Benue State to establish a ranch.

“I think what that goes to show is that to encourage harmonious relationships between herders and farmers so there will be a win-win situation.

“It is not meant to impute any motive or theory that will not encourage the unity of this country.

“We appreciate and commend the President for his speech and the position he has taken and the governor in his speech also recommended state police.

“There is no difference between state police and community police. So it is decentralising security.

“There will be a technical committee that will look at all the issues and put together a working paper for the governors going forward,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu