….Say they don’t meet requirements
The House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendment has rejected all 31 proposals for state creation, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.
NEW DAILY PRIME reports that the House received proposals for the creation of 31 new states, among which are Ibadan, Ijebu, Savannah, Etiti, among others on February 6, 2025.
But speaking on Friday at a retreat for panel members in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, deputy speaker of the House and chairman of the committee, Benjamin Kalu, said while the proposals reflected the aspirations of various regions, none adhered to the provisions of Section 8 of the 1999 constitution, which outlines the criteria for state creation.
Kalu said, “Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of these requests met the constitutional requirements for amendment.
“Therefore, we have since extended the submission date to the 5th of March, 2025. But this retreat could in our resolution extend it further if we find out that there are still challenges that the people we represent in their efforts to make their voices heard.”
He added that the committee might consider further extending the deadline, depending on discussions at the retreat.
“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,” he said.
The deputy speaker said the committee is currently reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills.
He noted that the committee is currently reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills covering issues such as federal structure, power devolution, local government autonomy, revenue allocation, judicial and electoral reforms, security, gender rights, and human rights.
“A proactive, cooperative approach will ensure seamless legislative processes and comprehensive legal reforms,” Kalu said.
As part of the review process, zonal and national public hearings will be held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with sessions planned in Nasarawa, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo states.
Kalu assured that the review process would be transparent and inclusive, emphasising 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.
