Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, has said that all 31 requests submitted for States creation have failed to meet up with constitutional requirements.
Kalu, who also serves as Chairman of the Committee on 1999 Constitution Ammendment, said the scenario prompted an extension of the submission deadline to March 5, 2025 to enable the applicants to fulfill the relevant provisions.
The Deputy Speaker stated this Friday at the commencement of a two-day Retreat for members of the Constitution Review Committee of the Federal House of Representatives, holding at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
“Although we received 31 requests for States creation, none of the requests met the requirements. Thus, we have since extended the submission to the 5th of March 2025”, Kalu said.
The Deputy Speaker also announced that a Situation Room would be opened to collate and address other concerns of Nigerians in the course of the Constitution Amendment process, urging the lawmakers to ensure that the people are carried along.
Read also: Full list: 31 new Nigerian states proposed by House of Reps
“Unlike before, let me announce that we will partner with PLAC to open a situation room. A situation room that will be there to take, monitor the operations of the various other engagements. Questions you cannot address, the Secretariat will move those questions to the situation room where some of us will be having access to address all concerns. This situation room will also ensure that we publish all the engagements.
“Today’s retreat offers an opportunity to engage deeply with these bills and prepare for stakeholder consultations nationwide. As legislators, we must ensure the voices of Nigerians are reflected in our constitutional reforms. As we deliberate, I urge you to approach this task with diligence, objectivity, and patriotism. The success of this review process hinges on our collective dedication to national progress”, he said.
Kalu added that the Committee would soon embark on zonal public hearings within the 6 Geo-political Zones of the Country. He also noted that there were over 200 bills on Constitution Ammendment in the Lower chamber.
The proposed new States are Okun, Okura and Confluence States from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa States from Benue; FCT State; Amana State from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi State and Savannah State from Borno and Muri State from Taraba State.
Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat States from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari States from Kano State; and Kainji State from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th State in the South-East; Adada from Enugu; Orlu and Aba from the South East. Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos and Ogun States; Ijebu State from Ogun State as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.
English (US) ·