Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has stated that none of the 31 submitted requests for new states have met the constitutional requirements. Kalu, who also leads the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made this known on Friday at a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Kalu explained that while there is significant interest in state creation, the proposals did not satisfy the conditions outlined in the Nigerian Constitution. He further revealed that the deadline for submissions has been extended until March 5, 2025, to allow more time for interested groups to fulfill the necessary requirements. However, he added that the extension could be reviewed further if challenges persist.
“So at the end of this retreat, it will be one of the things we will look into, whether or not we will extend the time. But let it be a notice that none of the applications followed the conditions laid out by Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Kalu said.
The retreat, organized in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, was aimed at reviewing constitutional amendment bills and mapping out strategies for the next phase of the process.
Kalu also noted that the House Committee is currently evaluating 151 constitutional amendment bills. One major challenge in this process, he said, is the issue of duplication, as several proposed bills address similar concerns.
As part of efforts to engage the public, the committee has planned zonal and national hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These hearings will take place in several states, including Nasarawa, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo. The goal is to ensure that citizens across different regions have the opportunity to contribute to the constitutional review.
Kalu assured Nigerians that the review process will be transparent and inclusive, noting that the amendments must reflect the interests of the people.
“As legislators, we must ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in our constitutional reforms,” he said.
