The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has disclosed that none of the 31 requests for state creation submitted to the House met the constitutional requirements for amendment.
Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made this known on Friday during a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
“Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of these requests met the constitutional requirements for amendment,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker announced an extension of the submission date to 5th March 2025, noting that the retreat might extend it further if challenges persisted.
“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 added.
The event, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, aimed to review amendment bills and strategise on the next steps in the constitutional review process.
Kalu also highlighted the ongoing review of 151 constitutional amendment bills, revealing that duplication had been a key challenge.
He assured Nigerians of a transparent and inclusive process through zonal and national public hearings across the six geopolitical zones.
“As legislators, we must ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in our constitutional reforms,” Kalu said.
