Next week, House of Representatives will engage in a national dialogue regarding local government autonomy, with zonal public hearings scheduled to begin in January 2025.
The House of Representatives Committee overseeing the assessment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) announced on Thursday that it will host a national dialogue focused on Local Government autonomy on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Abuja.
Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, while chairing a brief meeting of the panel at the National Assembly complex said that the national dialogue aims to consolidate ideas for a robust discourse on the independence of local government administration in Nigeria.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, I would also like to remind us of the upcoming National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment scheduled to hold on Monday, 2nd December 2024, in Abuja. This event is a vital platform to consolidate ideas and strategies for achieving a robust local government framework, which is critical to our constitutional review efforts. In addition, other engagements that we will be having include: public engagement on tax reforms as it concerns the constitution amendment and a public engagement with political parties.
“As we continue in this historic undertaking, let us remain guided
by our shared commitment to strengthening our democracy,
deepening our federal structure, and fostering unity and prosperity
for all Nigerians.”
Kalu also declared that the committee is set to begin holding zonal public hearings in January 2025.
This followed the resolution of the committee on the locations of the public engagements.
He said that the hearings will take place in 12 States, representing the six geopolitical zones.
The states include North-East: Gombe and Borno States; North Central: Nassarawa and Niger; North West: Kaduna and Sokoto; South East: Enugu and Imo States; South South: Bayelsa and Cross River States; and South West: Lagos and Ondo States.
Kalu emphasised the importance of inclusivity and encouraged committee members to engage with their respective state caucuses, governors, and house of assembly members to ensure the success of the exercise.
“These are the locations in all the geopolitical zones for our public engagements next year. Those who are from these states, engage your colleagues in the House, engage your governors and members of your house of assembly. And then draw up your own local plan and let us have it so that we can integrate it into our own plan to guide us. What we expect is to have a full hall.
“The stakeholders engagement list must be drawn to cut across all the relevant stakeholders of the country from your States. Please, do not discriminate against the political parties. No religious biases. No tribes discrimination. Everyone who is a Nigerian should be in that room and then find a way of itemising your opinion on the 161 areas we are currently looking at so that on that day, it will be easier for people to come in and make presentations that will cover the interest of the stakeholders so that we don’t spend so much time. It’s a lot of work. It’s starting from January,” Kalu said.
