Nigeria, Oct. 29 -- The House of Representatives has moved to amend the 1999 Constitution to grant constitutional recognition and full autonomy to local governments and area councils, a reform lawmakers say will strengthen grassroots governance and deepen Nigeria's federal structure.

The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to include Local Government Areas and Area Councils as Constituent Units of the Federation and for Related Matters, scaled second reading during Wednesday's plenary session.

Jointly sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Adewale Hameed (APC, Lagos), the proposed legislation aims to constitutionally elevate...