Out with the old, in with the new
Nigeria is getting a new constitution
Good morning, Big Brains. If you got two editions of The Big Daily on Tuesday, blame my haters. They’ve worked hard to throw me off, but I will always rise above the hate. It was a technical mistake that won’t be happening again.
- Margaret
Word count: ~1000
Reading time ~ 3 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
Lawmakers are cooking up a new constitution
Tinubu is working with Governor Namadi to help Nigerians in Jigawa
The Big Deal
Lawmakers are cooking up a new constitution
If the weather feels hotter today, it’s because your favourite lawmakers are cooking again – a new constitution is in the oven, guys! Actually, “new” is a bit of a stretch but the 1999 constitution that most of us are familiar with is getting a facelift sooner than you think and it’s been in the works since February 2024.
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has confirmed that the constitution review is in progress, and all hands are on deck. The Governors Forum, State Speakers, Editors Guild, and even political party leaders and civil society groups are in on the project.
Deputy Speaker and committee head, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, also added that these guys are working harder than the devil right now because the goal is to deliver the revamped constitution by December 2025.
Meanwhile, two of Nigeria’s political OGs, former governors Obong Victor Attah and Chief Segun Osoba, think this revamp is necessary because, according to them, the 1999 constitution is dragging Nigeria down. Attah called it a leftover from the military days that has stopped the country from achieving good governance and full democratic potential.
Why is this a big deal?
The National Assembly is overseeing the whole process of this constitution revamp. This wouldn’t sound like a big deal if you don’t know the history of the Assembly and its lawmakers.
In the last year, your favourite lawmakers have been in the news for all the wrong reasons, which makes us a bit concerned that leaving the constitution’s review in their hands might not be what Nigeria needs right now. We have receipts to back this up.
In October 2023, the National Assembly decided to gift senators and members of the House of Representatives Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs) worth ₦57.6 billion. Their excuse? They needed the SUVs to do their jobs. But Nigerians were not impressed with the idea of struggling to make ends meet while their leaders continued to drive around in fancy new cars that taxes probably paid for.
Then they came through with another controversy in May 2024 after they signed the National Anthem Bill, pushing for a return to the old colonial anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee." Even though we’ve learned to live with it, the decision didn’t sit right with many Nigerians, especially given how quickly it was passed when the country had more pressing issues to address
And then there’s the 6-year presidency that was proposed by a group of 35 lawmakers in June 2024. These guys were pushing for a single six-year term for the president and state governors, along with a rotation of the presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. They claim this would cut governance costs and lead to a more stable political climate. But Nigerians haven’t had enough luck with good leaders to buy into that dream. They’ve been really quiet about the status of this bill, but we won’t be surprised if it pops up in the reviewed constitution.
As Attah said, the 1999 constitution could really use a facelift. We hope this revamp will not be a rash process inspired by political motives that could hurt Nigerians because we are already in hot soup, and God forbid a new constitution turns the heat up.
Tinubu is working with Governor Namadi to help Nigerians in Jigawa
We’re too chill for a country where a petrol tanker explosion killed 181 people, injured 80 and traumatised at least 210 families. This accident happened on October 15, 2024, in Jigawa, but there’s a high chance that you’re just hearing about it because the government hasn’t said much since it happened.
It took a whole week, but Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has finally met with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the petrol tanker explosion that has left members of the Majia community in mourning.
According to Namadi, the meeting was productive and produced a few good results that can benefit the explosion victims and their families. He also added that Tinubu sent a delegation to Jigawa right after the explosion, even though he was on leave at the time. Tinubu will also be supporting the victims and their families by paying their hospital bills and covering their financial needs.
If you’re wondering what really caused the explosion, Namadi is almost as unsure as we all are but he’s setting up a committee headed by a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The committee is going to find out the real cause and the government is going to form strategies from those findings to make sure Jigawa never suffers that kind of loss again.
This Week’s Big Question
“What’s the first thing you’re buying on salary day?”
Temi’s response - “The first thing I’m paying for on salary day is a spa appointment. I need facials. I’m starting to look like Nigeria’s problems.”
You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting as Temi’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
The Big Picks
Tinubu Sacks Five Ministers, Makes Seven Fresh Nominations: On Wednesday, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President dismissed several ministers: Uju-Ken Ohanenye from her role as Minister of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John from her role as Minister of Tourism, Tahir Mamman from his role as Minister of Education, Abdullahi Gwarzo from his role as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Jamila Ibrahim from his as Minister of Youth Development.
Rivers Petrol Stations Threaten Shutdown Over Alleged Tanker Seizure By Army: Petrol station owners in Rivers State are threatening to shut down their operations due to the alleged seizure of their tankers, which reportedly contained 130,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
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