The Senate kick-started the amendment of the 1999 constitution on Thursday with the announcement of 37 senators to represent their respective geo-political zones in the country on the review committee.

The Review Committee headed by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is also the deputy Senate president, has one senator drawn from each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
Announcing the membership, Senate President David Mark named Senators Folarin Teslim Kolawole (Oyo), Olalekan Mustapha (Ogun), Iyiola Omisore (Osun), Kila Adefemi (Ekiti), Gbenga Ogunniya (Ondo) and Olorunnimbe Mamora (Lagos) as representatives of the South –West zone.

South- East zone would be represented by Senators Nkechi Nwogu (Abia), Joy Ifeyinwa Emodi (Anambra), Julius Uha (Ebonyi), Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu) and Izunaso Osita (Imo).
Senators Effiong Bob (Akwa Ibom), Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River), Patrick Osakwe (Delta), Ehigie Edobor Uzamere (Edo) and Lee Maeba, represent the South- South zone.

Those to take care of the North-West zone include Senators Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Kanti Bello (Katsina), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Gada A. Umar (Sokoto), Muhammed Bello (Kano) and Sani Ahmed (Zamfara).

For the North-East zone, the Senate announced Senators Mohammed Manna (Adamawa), Tawar Wada (Gombe), Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba), Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe), Suleman M. Nazifi (Bauchi) and Ma’aji Lawan (Borno) as representatives in the amendment committee.

Members representing the North-Central zone are Senators Akaagerger Iorshagher (Benue), Smart Adeyemi (Kogi), Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), Awaisu Kuta (Niger), Gyang Dalyop Dantong (Plateau), Abubakar Sodangi (Nasarawa) and Sidi Ali (FCT).

The committee, saddled with the responsibilities of mobilizing, collecting and collating all the related data for constitution amendments, is expected to work along with the House of Representatives, the State Houses of Assembly, political parties, civil society groups, traditional institutions, interest groups in Nigeria and in diaspora, the media and all other stakeholders to arrive at a resolution to pass an Act of amendment.