By Akanimo Sampson
For Nigerians without homes of their own, workers inclusive, what kind of a constitutional review are they expecting from the National Assembly?
At the moment, the country does not seem to be doing well in the area of social housing. That has contributed to the growing menace of homelessness in the country.
Disturbingly, the largest economy in the Africa is having a housing deficit of 22 million. In the urban areas, some citizens are sleeping under the bridge, motor parks, churches and mosques.
Affordable housing for all can effectively assist Nigeria to tackle its festering security challenges. Without mortgage financing, a greater majority of the citizenry will further slip into the homeless people bracket.
Racing prices of building materials is making it impossible for most workers to get affordable homes. There is an urgent need for social housing to be on the front burner of affairs in the country.
To this end, the citizenry should take greater advantage of the latest window of opportunity being offered by the Green Chamber of the country’s bicameral Legislature to demand inclusion of social housing in the constitution.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, says the zonal public hearing on the proposed review of the 1999 constitution will begin on June 1, pointing out that each zone will have two centres and the exercise will end on June 3.
The House Constitution Review Committee was inaugurated in October 2020. The Senate had announced a similar public hearing which is scheduled to begin on May 26.Wase says the public hearing for the North-Central region will hold in Jos, the lateau state capital, and Lokoja, capital of Kogi State
“The North-East has Bauchi centre, which is made up of Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, while Yola centre has Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states,” he said in a statement by Umar Puma, his spokesperson. “The North-West centre is in Birnin Kebbi, with Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states, while Kano centre wihich will hold on 2rd and 3rd June, with Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states.
“The South-East which has Enugu centre, will host Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, while Owerri centre will host Imo and Abia states.”
In the South-West, Akure, the capital of Ondo State, and Lagos will host states from Western Nigeria.
Asaba, the Delta state capital, and Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, will host the South-South states.
Wase, who is the Chairman of the Special Committee on Constitution Review, said members of the panel will be posted outside their zones to “have a feeling of what is obtainable in other geopolitical zones”.
