No proposal for new states meets constitutional requirements—Deputy Speaker
By Uzair Adam
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has disclosed that none of the 31 proposals submitted for the creation of new states in Nigeria met the constitutional requirements.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day retreat for members of the Constitution Review Committee in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Kalu, who also serves as the chairman of the committee, revealed that over 200 bills seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution had been received.
He stated that while some of the proposed amendments had reached the second reading stage, others were still at the first reading.
According to him, the retreat aimed to review the bills, incorporate expert input, familiarize members with their contents, and prioritize them based on national interest.
The committee is also preparing for zonal public hearings and a harmonization meeting with the Senate.
“The compilation process has revealed instances of duplication—whether by sponsors or overlapping subject matters. This necessitates meticulous harmonization to streamline efforts and eliminate redundancy,” Kalu said.
He further explained that the bills had been grouped into thematic areas, including federal structure and power devolution, local government autonomy, public revenue, fiscal federation, revenue allocation, electoral reforms, judicial reforms, gender issues, human rights, and state creation.
Regarding state creation, Kalu said the committee received 31 requests but found none of them met the constitutional criteria.
Consequently, the submission deadline has been extended to March 5, 2025, to allow applicants to fulfill the necessary requirements.
In a move to enhance public engagement, Kalu announced the establishment of a situation room in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) to address concerns from Nigerians during the constitution amendment process.
He urged lawmakers to ensure that citizens’ voices are reflected in the ongoing reforms.
The deputy speaker also disclosed plans for zonal public hearings across the six geopolitical zones to gather more input from stakeholders before finalizing the amendments.