SAN: Why Nigeria Needs a New Constitution Beyond the 1999 Military-Era Document

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria argues that the 1999 Constitution lacks the broad legislative and popular input needed for a durable democratic framework. He compares it with the 1960, 1963 and 1979 constitutions, saying the current document emerged through military promulgation rather than a fully representative process. He identifies Section 6(6)(d), the difficult amendment procedure under Section 9, and the non-justiciable provisions of Chapter II as major concerns. He says these provisions limit citizens’ ability to demand accountability and make meaningful constitutional reform difficult. The interview also examines immunity for serving governors, executive influence over judicial funding, federal control of natural resources, and the political rights of FCT indigenous communities. He calls for an inclusive constitutional conference and a referendum to produce a new constitution that strengthens accountability, judicial independence, state autonomy and citizens’ rights.

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