The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution says no state creation requests qualified.
Chairman Benjamin Okezie Kalu, also Deputy Speaker, revealed this during a two-day retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom.
The retreat, held from February 20 to 23, 2025, focused on reviewing amendment bills and setting strategic priorities.
Organized by the 10th House with support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, it addressed key reforms.
Although 31 requests for state creation were received, none met constitutional conditions outlined in Section 8, Kalu stated.
He announced the submission deadline has been extended to March 5, 2025, allowing additional inputs and possible revisions.
The deadline might extend further, depending on retreat outcomes and challenges communities face in meeting constitutional criteria.
The committee is also reviewing 151 amendment bills, representing lawmakers’ commitment to improving Nigeria’s governance structures and policies.
While some bills reached the second reading, many others remain at the first stage, awaiting further legislative deliberations.
A significant challenge identified was bill duplication, with overlapping subjects and similar issues proposed by different sponsors.
To streamline processes, the committee categorized bills into thematic areas, ensuring effective prioritization based on national interest.
These thematic areas include federal structure, local government autonomy, revenue allocation, security reforms, judicial processes, and state creation.
The committee also emphasized electoral reforms, gender issues, and human rights as vital to Nigeria’s constitutional development.
Recognizing electoral law intersections, the committee invited Senate and House Electoral Committees’ leadership for joint discussions.
Any proposed Electoral Act amendments requiring constitutional changes must undergo this committee’s review for comprehensive legislative alignment.
Zonal and national public hearings will occur across six geopolitical zones, encouraging citizen participation in the review process.
Regions hosting hearings include Nasarawa, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo.
Kalu urged lawmakers to approach these bills diligently, ensuring amendments accurately represent Nigerians’ collective aspirations.
He reaffirmed the committee’s dedication to a transparent review process, promising amendments that strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to meet its constitutional review timeline.
