Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu: No Requests for State Creation Met Constitutional Requirements

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu: No Requests for State Creation Met Constitutional Requirements

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, announced that none of the 31 submitted requests for state creation fulfilled the constitutional requirements.

Kalu made this statement on February 21 during a two-day retreat for committee members in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat aimed to review pending constitutional amendment bills and strategize the way forward.

Held from February 20 to 23, 2025, the retreat was organized by the 10th House of Representatives in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

Emphasizing the importance of state creation in Nigeria’s governance, Kalu acknowledged that while the requests reflected the aspirations of various communities, they did not meet the legal benchmarks necessary for consideration. “Although we have received 31 requests for state creation, none of these requests met the constitutional requirements for amendment,” Kalu stated.