The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, on Wednesday presented key proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to stakeholders in the southern region of Nigeria, with a strong emphasis on women and youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and constitutional roles for traditional rulers.
Speaking at the Citizens’ Roundtable held in Owerri, Imo State, and represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Speaker explained that the House was committed to reforms that reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.
Among the reforms under consideration are the creation of special reserved seats for women in the legislature, greater political inclusion for young people, and the recognition of traditional rulers in governance structures.
“From focused discussions on appropriation and state policing to deliberations on national security, economic resilience, political inclusion, and equitable gender representation, we have remained unwavering in our commitment to align our legislative efforts with the dynamic aspirations of the people,” Abbas said.
The Speaker highlighted that the House had initiated legislative dialogues with traditional rulers, acknowledging their roles in conflict resolution, cultural preservation, and social order.
He noted that the ongoing review seeks to clearly define and strengthen their responsibilities in line with democratic principles.Abbas also stressed the importance of devolution of power to local governments, describing grassroots governance as the “cornerstone of Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
He said the parliament would continue to collaborate with state assemblies and local councils to strengthen service delivery and civic participation.
On youth development, the Speaker reaffirmed the House’s commitment to mentorship, leadership training, and skills development initiatives aimed at equipping young Nigerians for future leadership roles.
Addressing gender representation, he noted that women currently occupy less than 5 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, a figure he described as “far from satisfactory.”
He urged governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to support the constitutional amendment for special reserved seats for women, pointing to Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa as models of inclusive governance.
The event in Owerri marked the final phase of the three-part nationwide engagement on constitutional review, following earlier sessions in Abuja and Zaria. Abbas described the consultations as a fulfilment of the House’s pledge to “not only speak for the people but also speak with them and amplify their voices.”
The Speaker reaffirmed that the constitutional review process was designed to be people-driven, ensuring that reforms reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity and democratic aspirations.