The Nigerian Senate has postponed the North-West zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, initially slated to take place this weekend in Kano, out of respect for the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during Tuesday’s plenary session.

According to Akpabio, the postponement was necessitated by the absence of the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, who is currently in Saudi Arabia attending the burial rites of an elder statesman.

“The leadership of the Senate has resolved to postpone the North-West public hearing in honour of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata,” Akpabio stated. “Senator Barau Jibrin is in Medina with the Nigerian delegation and will resume his responsibilities upon return.”it

The Senate President added that a new date for the North-West hearing will be communicated after consultations with stakeholders in the region.

In the meantime, the constitution review hearings in other geopolitical zones—namely Borno (North-East), Plateau (North-Central), Enugu (South-East), Akwa Ibom (South-South), and Lagos (South-West)—will continue as scheduled in line with the committee’s timetable.

The zonal hearings are part of the Senate’s effort to gather public input on key constitutional amendments, including devolution of powers, state policing, fiscal reforms, and electoral processes.

Senator Jibrin’s absence, Senate sources noted, left a temporary gap in the committee’s leadership, making it impractical to proceed with the North-West hearing this weekend.

The late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, a revered businessman and philanthropist, was laid to rest in Medina, Saudi Arabia, in accordance with Islamic rites.