The deputy speaker disclosed that none of the 31 state creation requests met constitutional requirements, while many amendment bills face duplication issues
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has revealed that none of the 31 requests submitted for state creation met the constitutional requirements.
Kalu, who also doubles as the Deputy Speaker of the House, made this known during a two-day retreat for committee members in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday.
The retreat, which began from February 20 to 23, 2025, is providing a platform for reviewing pending amendment bills and strategizing on the next steps in the constitutional review process.
The event was organized by the 10th House in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
Acknowledging the significance of state creation in Nigeria’s governance discourse, Rep. Kalu stated that while the demands reflected the aspirations of various communities, they fell short of the legal criteria necessary for consideration.
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Extension for Submissions
To allow further input and possible revisions, Rep. Kalu announced that the committee had extended the deadline for submissions to March 5, 2025, adding that the deadline could be extended further if necessary.
“Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of these requests met the constitutional requirements for amendment,” he stated.
“Therefore, we have since extended the submission date to 5th of March, 2025. But this retreat could, in our resolution, extend it further if we find out that there are still challenges preventing the people we represent from making their voices heard.
“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 on notice that none of the applications followed the conditions laid out by section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Kalu said.
Review of 151 Constitution Amendment Bills
Kalu further disclosed that the House Committee is currently reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills as part of a broader effort to refine governance in Nigeria.
While some bills have progressed to the second reading, others remain at the first stage, highlighting the complexity of the review process.
A key challenge in the review process, according to Kalu, is the issue of duplication. He explained that some bills address similar issues under different sponsors, while others overlap in subject matter.
To streamline efforts and eliminate redundancy, the committee categorized the bills into thematic areas, including:
- Federal Structure and Power Devolution
- Local Government Autonomy
- Public Revenue
- Fiscal Federation
- Revenue Allocation
- Nigerian Police and Security Architecture
- Comprehensive Judicial Reforms
- Electoral Reforms
- Gender Issues and Human Rights
- State Creation
According to Kalu, this categorization will help lawmakers prioritize amendments based on national interest and legislative relevance.
Electoral Reforms and Public Hearings
Recognizing the intersection between constitutional amendments and electoral laws, Kalu stated that the committee had invited the leadership of both the House and Senate Committees on Electoral Matters to the retreat.
He emphasised that any proposed changes to the Electoral Act requiring constitutional alterations must pass through the committee, adding that a proactive, cooperative approach would ensure seamless legislative processes and comprehensive legal reforms.
As part of the next phase of the constitutional review, Kalu announced that the committee has scheduled zonal and national public hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to allow citizens to contribute to the amendment process.
These hearings will take place in:
- North Central: Nasarawa and Niger States
- North East:Borno and Gombe States
- North West: Kaduna and Sokoto States
- South East: Enugu and Imo States
- South South: Bayelsa and Cross River States
- South West: Lagos and Ondo States
Kalu urged lawmakers to engage with the amendment bills diligently and objectively to ensure that the final reforms reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
“As legislators, we must ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in our constitutional reforms,” he stated.
Commitment to Inclusive Reforms
Kalu reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to a transparent and inclusive constitutional review process. He expressed confidence that their deliberations would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and governance structure.
