All 31 State Creation Requests Fail; House Sets Deadline for Revisions  

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment has rejected all 31 proposals for state creation, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee, made this known on Friday at a retreat for panel members in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He stated that while the proposals reflected the aspirations of various regions, none adhered to the provisions of Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the criteria for state creation.

“Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of these requests met the constitutional requirements for amendment. Therefore, we have since extended the submission date to the 5th of March, 2025,” Kalu said.

He emphasized the importance of strict adherence to constitutional guidelines and hinted at a possible extension of the deadline based on deliberations at the retreat.

“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,” he added. “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.”

The committee is also reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills addressing key national issues, including federal structure, power devolution, local government autonomy, revenue allocation, judicial and electoral reforms, security, gender rights, and human rights.

“A proactive, cooperative approach will ensure seamless legislative processes and comprehensive legal reforms,” Kalu noted.

The post All 31 State Creation Requests Fail; House Sets Deadline for Revisions   appeared first on Kano Times.