Constitution Review: New States, State Police, Sharia Courts, are Top Demands Nationwide

. Senate Assures Equity, Promises Draft by December

By John Paul
Nigerians across the country have spoken loudly and clearly during the recent zonal public hearings on the review of the 1999 Constitution, demanding bold and wide-ranging reforms—from the creation of new states to state police, Sharia courts, and the formal recognition of Friday as a national public holiday.

The Senate Committee on Constitution Review concluded its two-day public hearings across all six geopolitical zones at the weekend, with the events yielding a deluge of proposals that reflect the country’s complex social, religious, and regional dynamics.

In Jos, Plateau State, during the North Central hearing, Governor Caleb Mutfwang strongly advocated for the establishment of state police, calling it a necessary response to the growing insecurity ravaging the country.

“Security threats have spread from isolated zones to the entire federation. State police is no longer a luxury—it’s a constitutional necessity,” Mutfwang said. He also called for fiscal federalism, devolution of power, and reforms that would empower subnational governments to drive development and justice.

Across the country in Lagos, the South West hearing became a rallying ground for various calls to create new states out of Oyo, including New Oyo State (with capital at Ogbomoso), Oke-Ogun State (Agunrege), and Ibadan State.

Retired Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani, representing the Ogbomoso Valiant Club, submitted a bill for the creation of New Oyo State. He argued that the current Oyo State is nearly as large as the entire South East and that breaking it up would promote equity and better governance.

“If the South East can have five states, it is only fair to consider a new Oyo State,” he said, citing Ogbomoso’s population, economic potential, and historical significance.

Similarly, Dr. Bimpe Aderonmu, speaking for the Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum, demanded a separate state to serve the interests of 10 underserved local governments, citing historical marginalisation and economic neglect.

From Ibadan, Chief Suleiman Adewole of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes joined the fray, insisting on the creation of Ibadan State, noting that “Ibadan has long deserved statehood since the days when it stood as a regional capital alongside Kaduna and Enugu.”

Meanwhile, speakers at the hearing raised concerns about boundary disputes. Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye, Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairman of the South West Speakers’ Conference, called for robust legislation to resolve long-standing boundary conflicts.

He also spoke on the arbitrary removal of presiding officers in state assemblies, proposing clearer constitutional guidelines to prevent political instability at the state level.

On the critical issue of internal security, Aribasoye reaffirmed support for Amotekun, the South West security initiative, as proof of regional readiness to manage state policing structures.

One of the more controversial proposals came from Islamic rights groups. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) called for the creation of Sharia Courts in all South West states and the declaration of Fridays as national public holidays to reflect Muslim religious practices.

Speaking through Dr. Jamiu Busari, MURIC’s founder Prof. Ishaq Akintola argued that “No Sharia Court exists in the South West despite the majority-Muslim population in some states,” and called this omission discriminatory. He also demanded equal recognition for Islamic marriage certificates, which he said are often disregarded in official settings.

MURIC also proposed that the Islamic New Year be recognized as a national holiday, claiming that Nigeria’s existing public holiday structure disproportionately favours Christian observances.

MUSWEN added to these calls by advocating for Sharia-compliant finance courts to support Islamic economic systems.

In response, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, assured Nigerians that all submissions would receive fair consideration. Represented at the Lagos hearing by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Barau said the committee would present its report to the National Assembly in time for a final draft to be ready before December 2025.

He also confirmed that once the Senate completes its review, the proposed constitutional amendments will be transmitted to state Houses of Assembly for ratification, in line with legal procedure.

Throughout the hearings, participation was robust, with representations from women’s groups, student unions, traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and ethnic nationalities.