31 Requests For State Creation Didn’t Meet Constitutional Requirements

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has revealed that none of the 31 requests for state creation met the constitutional requirements, citing Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution.

Mr Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, revealed this in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State during a two-day retreat for committee members aimed at reviewing pending amendment bills and strategize on the next steps in the constitutional review process.

To address the deficiencies, Kalu extended the submission deadline to March 5, 2025, allowing for further input and possible revisions noting that the deadline may be extended further, depending on the retreat’s outcome.

He stated further that the House Committee is currently reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills, reflecting lawmakers’ efforts to refine governance in Nigeria.

“However, Kalu highlighted duplication as a major challenge, with some bills addressing similar issues under different sponsors or overlapping in subject matter.

“To streamline efforts, the committee categorized the bills into thematic areas, including federal structure and power devolution, local government autonomy, and electoral reforms. This categorization will help lawmakers prioritize amendments based on national interest and legislative relevance”. Kalu said.

“The committee has scheduled zonal and national public hearings across the six geopolitical zones, providing an avenue for Nigerians to contribute to the amendment process.”

“As part of the constitutional review, Kalu urged lawmakers to work diligently and objectively, ensuring that the final amendments reflect the will of the Nigerian people.”

He promised a renewed commitment to a transparent and inclusive constitutional review process, expressing confidence that the committee’s deliberations would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and governance structure”.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji