Constitution A Living Compact That Must Evolve With People It Governs -Gov Sani

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, urging lawmakers to prioritize the empowerment of citizens and democratic institutions over elite interests.

Speaking through his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, at the North-West zonal public hearing on the constitution review held in Kaduna, Sani described the Constitution as a “living compact” that must evolve with the people it governs.

“This is not just a technical review, it is an act of political courage and moral imagination,” he said.

“The Constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for the powerful and become a charter of empowerment for the people.”

Sani, a former senator and advocate for constitutional reform, outlined key areas requiring attention: decentralised policing, true federalism, economic devolution, gender inclusion, institutional independence, and formal recognition of traditional rulers.

On state policing, he argued that national security must begin at the local level, saying, “Security cannot be national if it is not local.” Sani reaffirmed support for state police, a policy he has championed through multiple legislative proposals while in the Senate.

Calling Nigeria’s fiscal structure “overcentralised,” he said it discourages local innovation and alienates citizens from development processes.

“We need a constitutional realignment that gives states greater control over their resources,” he added.

He also pressed for stronger gender representation, describing the marginalization of women in politics as a “national failing,” and pushed for constitutional status for traditional rulers, calling them “stabilizing agents of governance and peace.”

Sani criticized the military origins of the 1999 Constitution, calling it “a flawed legacy” that no longer meets the aspirations of Nigerians.

The Chairman of the North-West Subcommittee on Constitution Review, Aliyu Sani Madaki described the review as “a task of national rebirth.”

He pledged that no voice would be ignored and no idea dismissed.

Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the House, Dr Abbas, Tajudeen and the Constitution Review Committee led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Madaki described the hearing as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

“This is more than a legislative duty. It is a national responsibility that will shape the lives of generations yet unborn,” he said.

He revealed that the committee is considering 86 bills across 13 thematic areas, including state policing, judicial and electoral reforms, fiscal federalism, traditional institutions, and local government autonomy.

“Our goal is not to edit text but to refine the tools of nation-building,” Madaki said, urging participants to rise above partisanship and pursue a vision that unites Nigerians in justice and equity.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji