Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed that none of the 31 state creation requests currently under consideration have met the constitutional criteria required for approval. Speaking at a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, emphasized that the deadline for submissions has been extended to March 5, 2025. This extension is intended to provide applicants with additional time to fulfill the necessary constitutional requirements.
Kalu explained that while the deadline had been initially set, the committee is open to further extensions if challenges persist for those seeking to make their case for new states. “This retreat could, in our resolution, extend it further if we find out that there are still challenges that the people we represent face in their efforts to make their voices heard,” he said.
The retreat, organized in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, focused on reviewing a range of amendment bills as part of the ongoing constitutional review process. Kalu noted that the committee is currently evaluating 151 different amendment bills. However, he pointed out that duplication of some bills remains a challenge.
Public hearings will be conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to gather input from citizens. These hearings will take place in states such as Nasarawa, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo, ensuring a broad-based and inclusive consultation process.
Kalu assured Nigerians that the constitutional review process will be transparent and inclusive, stressing the need for legislative reforms that align with the wishes of the people. The ongoing effort aims to ensure that Nigeria’s constitution better reflects the realities and aspirations of its citizens while addressing contemporary challenges in governance.
With the new deadline approaching, applicants for state creation have one last opportunity to amend their proposals and ensure they meet the constitutional guidelines. At the same time, the review of the 151 amendment bills highlights the seriousness with which the House is addressing the need for comprehensive legal reforms to improve the nation’s governance framework.
