Muhammad is going to the mountain
Your favourite lawmakers are coming to a city close to you
Good morning, Big Brains. I’m in a particularly good mood this morning because today is the birthday of someone close to my heart. I know it’s none of your business, but I’m choosing to make it your business.
- Margaret
Word count: ~ 1,300
Reading time ~ 8 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
Your favourite lawmakers are coming to a city close to you
Benue killings victims may finally get justice
The Big Deal
Your favourite lawmakers are coming to a city close to you
Some wise old dude said, “If the mountain doesn’t go to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the mountain.” In case you haven’t figured it out, you are the mountain, and your favourite Nigerian lawmakers are cosplaying Muhammad by bringing the proposed amendments for the 1999 constitution to you.
From July 4 to 5, the Senate will host Zonal Public Hearings across all six geopolitical zones, but the specific locations representing each zone are Lagos, Enugu, Ikot Ekpene, Jos, Maiduguri, and Kano.
Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President and Chair of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, is the lawmaker headlining this policy tour. His media aide, Ismail Mudashir, says the goal is to give everyday Nigerians insight into the constitutional process and six other bills.
The proposed amendments and bills are long and interesting, but we’ve picked out a few for you to go through. One of the most interesting bills is designed to create extra seats for women in the National Assembly and state legislatures.
Another bill is proposing that Nigerians in the diaspora should be allowed to participate in the electoral process by voting from whatever part of the world they are domiciled.
A bill pushing independent candidacy is also being discussed. If passed, Nigerians will no longer need a party structure to chase leadership positions.
There is also a proposal to set up National, State, and Local Government Councils for traditional rulers.
The good ol’ “Nigeria needs more states” proposal is still very much up for discussion. The committee has received 31 requests for state creation, but they are welcoming public opinion before executing the plan.
Finally, there are over 20 bills pushing for faster judgments and stronger election tribunals to be debated at the public hearing.
According to Senator Jibrin’s office, this is your chance to shape the constitution, or at least vent with hope that something changes.
Why is this a big deal?
If all things go according to plan, the amended constitution should be ready within the first two months of 2026. If you don’t involve yourself in the process, you’d be automatically giving up your right to contest whatever shady amendment that shows up in the Constitution.
There’s a chance that you’ve never been involved in any public hearing process, but according to the Nigerian public hearing system, you have every right to be involved on the 4th and 5th of July.
Every Nigerian is welcome to show up at these public hearings, but if you want to actually speak to the committee, you need to be invited as a witness. This does not mean you should let that stop you from showing up. Attendance alone tells these lawmakers that citizens are watching, and we care about the Constitution. The media will be there too (under tight rules), so you can tune in to any of the accredited media platforms if the hearings aren’t happening anywhere near you.
While we encourage you to attend, we’ll also advise you to manage your expectations because public hearings in Nigeria face many problems that could easily make the whole process seem useless.
First, there’s the awareness problem. You might not have known about this hearing if not for newsletters like The Big Daily (not to toot our own horn or anything). These lawmakers haven’t exactly been spreading the gospel of the amendment, and that could affect the level of organic turnout and leave room for a controlled and biased audience.
Time is also a potential problem. Legislators have tight deadlines to pass these amendments, meaning public input can get rushed or sidelined.
Nigeria has also had a long history of no-shows by government officials who are needed to speak under oath during public hearings. Under the Obasanjo-led administration, some officials had to be threatened with arrest warrants before appearing for public hearings.
Finally, there's the pressure group problem. Lobbyists and well-connected interest groups usually get VIP access and louder voices. So while the average citizen is submitting their input, someone with a powerful contact might get a better shot at influencing the outcome.
If you ask us, the challenges are all the more reason to attend and ensure your voice is heard.
Benue killings victims may finally get justice
There’s hardly anything that can count as justice for the victims of the Benue killings and their loved ones. But on Sunday, June 23, the Benue State Police Command announced it had made some arrests linked to the gruesome attack in Yelwata.
The Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, has decided to keep the suspects' identities under wraps, but he claims the breakthrough wouldn’t have happened without the backing of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia. He also confirmed that reinforcements from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have landed and are now stationed across rural areas to keep things in order.
CP Emenari also advised landlords and hotel operators to become part-time security officials by profiling their tenants and guests to prevent more bloodshed. It’s an interesting order for a population that’s already doing everything to survive.
These are the days after President Tinubu said he wanted those involved in the attack to be arrested. While the President’s words may offer some assurance, the truth remains that those who watched their loved ones die a needless death will sleep better at night knowing that they’d never have to witness such horror again.
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This Week’s Big Question
Do you still believe in a “better Nigeria?”
Helen’s response - “It depends on the day. But 99 out of 100 days, I struggle to find that hope.”
You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting as Helen’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
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I hope these public hearing becomes meaningful
I knew you’d do this ! 🥰