By: Tanimu Salihu
House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has called on the international community for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance to bolster the constitutional reform process for better outcomes.
Speaking at the Constitution Review Diplomatic Dinner themed “Constitution, Dialogue and National Renewal” held at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, Mr. Benjamin Kalu emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting democratic values and facilitating the exchange of best practices in constitutional and legislative matters
Mr. Kalu said the collaboration will focus on three key areas which include study tours and legislative exchanges, technical resources and expertise, and inter-parliamentary cooperation.
He said, that the lawmakers hope to benefit from exposure to diverse constitutional models and legislative practices, gain valuable insights into alternative governance structures, and strengthen their engagement with parliamentary bodies in other countries.
The Deputy Speaker added that Parliament will also welcome technical assistance from foreign countries and international organizations in the form of expert consultations, research support, and capacity building for the committee members and staff, stressing it would strengthen their ability to craft constitutional amendments that reflect global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s unique challenges and aspirations.
”Parliamentary diplomacy has emerged as a powerful tool for strengthening international cooperation, promoting democratic values, enhancing mutual understanding, and facilitating the exchange of best practices in constitutional and legislative matters. It is in this spirit that we have convened this dinner tonight to explore avenues for meaningful collaboration that can enrich our constitutional review process.
”We seek your support and partnership in several key areas: Study Tours and Legislative Exchange; Technical Resources and Expertise and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation.
”We believe that exposure to diverse constitutional models and legislative practices can significantly enhance our reform efforts. We invite your support in facilitating study tours for our committee members to your respective countries to observe firsthand how similar constitutional issues have been addressed in different contexts.
“These exchanges would allow our lawmakers to gain valuable insights into alternative governance structures, electoral systems, judicial frameworks, and security architectures that might inform our own constitutional amendments.
”Constitutional reform requires specialized knowledge and expertise across various domains, from federalism and devolution to judicial independence and gender mainstreaming. We welcome technical assistance from your countries and international organizations in the form of expert consultations, research support, and capacity building for our committee members and staff.
The Deputy Speaker also emphasized that the approach to the constitutional review is founded on the principle of inclusive participation.
To this end, he said that the committee has a adopted a multi-stakeholder engagement strategy that include public hearings, stakeholder consultations, digital platforms and media engagement, reiterating that the deadline for the completion of the review process remains December, 2025.
