The announcement was made in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, October 24, 2025.

Speaking at a two-day retreat in Lagos for the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, emphasized the legislature’s commitment to delivering “people-centred and timely” amendments. 

He urged lawmakers to finalize the first set of amendments for transmission to state Houses of Assembly before year-end.

Barau highlighted that the process, spanning two years, involved extensive consultations with constituents, stakeholders, institutions, civil society, and interest groups through town halls, interactive sessions, and public hearings. 

These efforts have produced 69 bills, including 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation proposals.

Acknowledging the complexity of the task, Barau expressed confidence that the committees could resolve key issues during the retreat. 

“It’s not a simple task to achieve in two days, but I believe we can do it,” he said, stressing the need for patriotism and unity to avoid divisive tendencies. 

As First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, he called for a cohesive approach guided by national interests.

Amending Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution has historically been challenging, requiring approval from two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly. 

Past efforts, including the Ninth National Assembly’s partial success in granting financial autonomy to state legislatures and judiciaries, faced obstacles over issues like state police and local government autonomy due to political and regional disagreements.

The retreat’s outcomes will be critical in determining whether these ambitious amendments can advance Nigeria’s constitutional framework.