NATIONAL SUMMIT CALLS FOR NEW CONSTITUTION, TRUE FEDERALISM AND SECURITY REFORMS

National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy has called for a new constitution that will usher in a truly federal system of government, promote inclusive governance, and address the country’s security challenges. The summit, held on July 16-17, 2025, in Abuja, was convened by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen and women, intellectuals, and civic leaders, led by renowned Diplomat and third Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).

The summit resolved that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is deeply flawed and unrepresentative, and that a new people-driven, inclusive, and democratic constitution is necessary to address Nigeria’s pluralism and various challenges. To achieve this, the summit recommends the establishment of a Constituent Assembly, which will be responsible for actualizing a people’s democratic constitution that will be subjected to a referendum.
*Key Resolutions*
– *Return to Genuine Federalism*: The summit calls for an immediate constitutional framework that will return Nigeria to a truly federal system of government where the federating units will enjoy their autonomy.
– *Devolution of Federal Powers*: The summit recommends the devolution of powers from the center to the federating units to discourage autocratic tendencies and encourage inter-institutional checks and balances.
– *Electoral Reforms*: The summit demands amendment to the Electoral Act and the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results real-time to be made mandatory.
– *Independent Candidature*: The new Constitution should include provision for independent candidacy for aspirants who do not wish to run for elections on party basis.
– *Cost of Governance*: The Constitution should set caps on the number of ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and such officers to reduce bloated government structures.
*Security Reforms*
– *National Security Architecture*: The summit recommends a broad range of measures to address the country’s security challenges, including the establishment of border/coastal security guards to support conventional security forces.
– *Sub-national Police*: The summit recommends the urgency of a legislative framework that would enable the creation of state police to tackle pervasive internal security issues across the geopolitical zones.
*Citizens’ Rights*
– *Citizens’ Empowerment Initiatives*: The summit recommends that the new Constitution should entrench robust provisions for the protection of the people’s socio-economic and political rights, such as education, security, and employment.
– *Women and Other Groups*: The summit recommends the inclusion of women, youths, people with special needs, and minorities in political participation, governance, and nation-building.

The summit leadership thanked all delegates for believing in this cause and saluted the resolve of all patriots to make Nigeria work. With sustained action and unflagging support for the resolutions reached at this summit, it is believed that the dawn of a new, just, equitable, and peaceful Nigeria is nigh.