In a significant step toward strengthening democratic institutions and promoting enduring constitutional reform, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, held a high-level engagement with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The courtesy visit, held at the National Assembly, provided an opportunity for the NBA to reaffirm its commitment to advancing a truly people-driven constitutional amendment process; one that reflects Nigeria’s contemporary realities and corrects systemic weaknesses within its governance and justice architecture.
Speaking during the meeting, the NBA President referenced the Association’s recently convened State of the Nation Discourse, organized in response to the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on local government autonomy.
He noted that the ongoing constitutional amendment process presents a timely opportunity to remedy long-standing structural and procedural challenges that have constrained national development and effective governance.
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, emphasized the need to reform the administration of justice, particularly by easing the caseload of the Supreme Court and addressing institutional bottlenecks that undermine judicial efficiency.
He further called for a reexamination of the current judicial governance structure, in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria chairs both the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC), describing it as a model that requires review to enhance transparency and accountability within the judiciary.
The NBA President also underscored that the issue of judicial appointments must form a central part of the constitutional review process.
He stressed that Nigeria needs a more transparent, merit-based, and independent framework for appointing judicial officers; one that reflects integrity, competence, and diversity while protecting the judiciary from political interference.
On electoral reforms, Mazi Afam Osigwe advocated for constitutional amendments that would institutionalize independent candidacy and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
He noted that such reforms would not only promote democratic inclusivity but also reduce the volume of electoral disputes that burden the courts and erode public confidence in the political process.
He reaffirmed the NBA’s readiness to collaborate with the National Assembly, particularly the Office of the Deputy Speaker, in championing legislative advocacy and facilitating inclusive public consultation to ensure that the amendment process is participatory, transparent, and effective.
The engagement concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to constitutional and institutional reform, with the NBA pledging continued partnership to ensure that the Constitution serves the collective interest of the Nigerian people.
Through this ongoing advocacy, the Nigerian Bar Association reasserts its leadership as a guardian of the rule of law, a defender of justice, and a catalyst for democratic renewal in Nigeria.
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