The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment has rejected all 31 proposals for the creation of new states, citing their failure to meet constitutional requirements for consideration.
The proposals, which were received on February 6, 2025, have been dismissed after thorough evaluation by the committee.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the committee responsible for reviewing the 1999 Constitution, made the announcement during a two-day retreat held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The retreat, organized in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), was focused on assessing constitutional amendment proposals and strategizing on the next steps for the review process.
“Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of them met the constitutional requirements for amendment,” Kalu said during the event.
In light of this, the committee has extended the submission deadline for state creation proposals to March 5, 2025. This extension allows communities to revise their proposals and ensure compliance with constitutional stipulations. Kalu hinted that further extensions may be granted, depending on the outcomes of the retreat discussions.
Beyond state creation, the committee is also reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills aimed at addressing various governance challenges in Nigeria. Kalu noted that some of these bills have already passed their second reading, while others are still at the initial stages of the review process.
As the constitutional review continues, communities seeking the creation of new states will need to meet the necessary constitutional requirements in order for their proposals to be considered for approval.
