The Nigerian Senate has postponed its scheduled constitution review hearing for the North-West zone in honour of the late elder statesman and business icon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who was laid to rest in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during Tuesday’s plenary, stating that the decision followed consultations with key stakeholders from the region.
“In view of the demise of a very prominent philanthropist and stakeholder, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, whose burial is taking place in Saudi Arabia, we resolved to observe a minute of silence in his honour,” Akpabio said.
A new date for the North-West hearing will be announced after further consultations and the return of Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, who is currently in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the postponement in the North-West, the Senate confirmed that zonal public hearings on the constitutional amendment proposals will proceed as planned in the other five geopolitical zones. These hearings are scheduled for July 4 and 5 and will take place in Lagos (South-West), Enugu (South-East), Ikot Ekpene (South-South), Jos (North-Central), and Maiduguri (North-East).
Senator Jibrin reiterated the importance of the hearings, emphasizing that they serve as a platform for Nigerians to participate directly in shaping the country’s constitutional future.
“These hearings are meant to give Nigerians across all zones the opportunity to make their voices heard on issues that directly affect their governance and daily lives,” he stated.
Key issues expected to be discussed include local government autonomy, the creation of a National Local Government Electoral Commission to oversee local elections nationwide, and the proposal for the establishment of state police, among other constitutional reform matters.
