OAL Proud to Support Groundbreaking Constitutional Amendment Bills

OAL is proud to announce that we are currently providing legal advisory services to the National Assembly on critical constitutional amendments. We are particularly privileged to advise on groundbreaking constitutional reform bills that will fundamentally transform Nigeria’s governance architecture.

Three transformative constitutional amendment bills have been developed that address critical gaps in Nigeria’s democratic framework:

1. Environmental Rights Bill (Sixth Alteration) 2025: This revolutionary legislation consecrates and elevates environmental rights as a constitutional right under Chapter IV of the Constitution by establishing justiciable rights to a clean, safe, and healthy environment with comprehensive judicial remedies. The bill integrates environmental protection within the right to life and human dignity. In addition, it provides for enforcement and procedural mechanisms for the protection of environmental rights and judicial remedies.
2. Local Government Reform Bill (Sixth Alteration) 2025: This comprehensive reform bill prohibits caretaker committees, mandates democratically elected councils with enhanced qualification requirements (first degree or equivalent), and establishes robust legislative councils with clear tenure limits (4-year terms, maximum of two terms) and separation of powers for local governments.
3. Institutional Democracy Strengthening Proposal: Based on the South African model, this bill aims to constitutionally protect democratic institutions like INEC, NJC, Code of Conduct Bureau from executive interference whilst ensuring operational independence, security of tenure, and accountability frameworks to the National Assembly.

OAL applauds the exceptional visionary leadership demonstrated in these constitutional reform initiatives, which show constitutional statesmanship through a deep understanding of Nigeria’s governance challenges and practical solutions rooted in comparative constitutional analysis. The Environmental Rights Bill positions Nigeria at the forefront of global environmental constitutionalism, whilst the Local Government Reform Bill demonstrates a commitment to deepening democratic culture at the foundation level, ensuring democracy works for ordinary Nigerians in their communities. The institutional democracy strengthening proposal shows understanding that protecting democratic institutions from executive interference is fundamental to consolidating Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring these institutions can function independently and effectively serve the Nigerian people.