Senate postpones North-West constitution review in honour of Dantata

The Nigerian Senate has postponed the North-West zonal public hearing on constitutional amendments to honour the late elder statesman and business magnate, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who was buried in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision during plenary, noting that the postponement followed consultations with stakeholders from the region.

“In view of the passing of a prominent philanthropist and stakeholder, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, whose burial is taking place in Saudi Arabia, we resolved to observe a minute of silence and postpone the hearing,” Akpabio said.

He added that a new date for the hearing will be decided in consultation with regional stakeholders and announced once the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, returns from Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed that public hearings on the constitutional review will proceed as scheduled in five other geopolitical zones on July 4 and 5. These include Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central), and Maiduguri (North-East).

Senator Jibrin emphasized the significance of the hearings, calling them an essential avenue for Nigerians to voice their opinions on critical governance issues.

“The constitutional review process is a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to reforms that affect their lives and the future of our nation,” he said.

Topics slated for discussion include local government autonomy, the establishment of a National Local Government Electoral Commission, and the creation of state police, among other key constitutional reform proposals.