House of Reps Rejects 31 State Creation Proposals, Cites Feasibility Concerns

The Committee on Constitutional Amendment in the House of Representatives has officially turned down all 31 proposals for creating new states, citing their inability to fulfill the constitutional requirements needed for such changes.

The proposals, submitted on February 6, 2025, ignited extensive debate as supporters expressed hopes for the creation of new states to tackle regional demands and administrative challenges.

During a retreat for panel members in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on Friday, Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the house and chairman of the committee, stated that although the proposals represented the aspirations of various regions, none complied with Section 8 of the 1999 constitution. This section specifies criteria for creating new states.

The previously mentioned section outlines the constitutional criteria for establishing a state.

At the retreat, Kalu, the deputy speaker, stated that the proposals must be re-submitted in “strict adherence” to the constitution by March 5.

He stated, “Even though we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of them fulfilled the constitutional requirements for amendment. Consequently, we have extended the submission deadline to March 5th, 2025.”

He mentioned that the committee could potentially consider extending the deadline further, based on discussions during the retreat.

He mentioned that by the conclusion of this retreat, they will consider whether to extend the duration.

Please be advised that none of the applications adhered to the conditions outlined in section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The deputy speaker stated that the committee is in the process of reviewing 151 bills related to constitutional amendments.

He mentioned that the committee is presently examining 151 constitutional amendment bills, addressing topics like federal structure, power devolution, local government autonomy, revenue distribution, judicial and electoral reforms as well as security issues along with gender and human rights.

“A proactive and collaborative approach will guarantee smooth legislative procedures and thorough legal reforms,” Kalu stated.

Kalu mentioned that the committee has arranged public hearings at both zonal and national levels across the six geopolitical zones concerning the constitutional amendment bills.