Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed on Friday that none of the 31 requests for state creation comply with the constitutional requirements. Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made this announcement at a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
According to Kalu, the House Committee has extended the submission deadline to March 5, 2025, allowing applicants to address the deficiencies in their requests. He emphasized that the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 8 must be met for state creation to be considered.
In addition to the state creation requests, Kalu revealed that the House Committee is reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills. However, duplication has been identified as a significant challenge in the process.
As part of the review process, the committee will hold zonal and national public hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These sessions will take place in various states, including Nasarawa, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo.
Kalu assured that the review process will be transparent and inclusive, emphasizing the need for legislative reforms that reflect the will of the Nigerian people. “As legislators, we must ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in our constitutional reforms,” he said.
