The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment has dismissed all 31 proposals for the creation of new states, citing their failure to meet the constitutional requirements.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the committee overseeing the review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, announced the decision on Friday during a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), aimed to evaluate various constitutional amendment proposals.
Kalu stated that although the House received the requests on February 6, 2025, none of them met the legal standards necessary for consideration.
However, he noted that the committee has extended the deadline for submissions to March 5, 2025, allowing communities to refine their proposals to align with constitutional requirements.
While addressing the broader constitutional review, Kalu revealed that the House Committee is also working on 151 amendment bills designed to tackle governance challenges in the country. Some of these bills have already passed the second reading, while others remain under initial review.
As the amendment process continues, communities advocating for state creation must ensure their proposals comply with the necessary legal framework to be considered for approval.
