The House of Representatives has clarified that none of the 30 proposals submitted for new state creation has met the constitutional requirements, emphasizing that the legislature has not taken a definitive stance on the matter.
The House also refuted media reports suggesting it was pushing for the creation of 31 states, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
Instead, lawmakers stressed that the process of state creation is ultimately driven by the people, who must follow the necessary legal and procedural steps.
Speaking in an interview on Friday in Abuja, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, explained that the proposals read during Thursday’s plenary session were merely to inform Nigerians about the number of applications received.
Kalu detailed the regional distribution of the requests: six proposals from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South-South, and seven from the South West.
Some of the proposed states include Okun, Okura, and Confluence (from Kogi), Benue Ala and Apa (from Benue), Amana (from Adamawa), Katagum (from Bauchi), Savannah (from Borno), and Muri (from Taraba).
Others include New Kaduna, Gujarat, Tiga, Ari, Kainji, Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu, Aba, Ogoja, Warri, Ori, Obolo, Torumbe, Ibadan, Lagoon, Ijebu, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha.
Providing further clarification, Kalu corrected the record, stating that the actual number of proposals was 30, not 31, as was erroneously reported.
However, he stressed that none of the submissions had satisfied the constitutional criteria outlined in Section 8, subsections 1 to 3 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
To address this, the House has given applicants until March 5 to rectify deficiencies in their proposals.
Kalu reminded stakeholders that state creation requires a two-thirds majority approval in the Senate, House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and local government councils before proceeding.
“We are the people’s parliament, and we are not taking a position on the creation of new states. The Ninth Assembly received even more requests for new states, but many people did not understand why their proposals failed.
In this Tenth Assembly, we have received 30 applications.
However, none have met the constitutional requirements,” Kalu stated.
He reiterated that the notification was to ensure transparency so that applicants understand why their proposals may not progress.
“The notice to the public is that you have until March 5 to address the gaps in your applications. If they do not meet the constitutional requirements, they cannot be considered,” he concluded.
