The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Benjamin Kalu, announced that none of the 31 state creation requests submitted met the constitutional requirements for approval. This announcement was made during a two-day retreat held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from February 20th to 23rd, 2025. The retreat served as a platform for reviewing pending amendment bills and strategizing the overall constitutional review process.
State Creation Requests
Kalu acknowledged the aspirations reflected in the 31 requests for state creation, but concluded that none satisfied the legal criteria outlined in Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also announced that the committee to allow for further submissions and potential revisions have extended the submission deadline to March 5th, 2025, with the possibility of further extensions. However, he noted that a valid state creation must comply strictly with constitutional requirements.
Constitutional Amendment Bills Under Review:
The committee is currently reviewing a substantial number of 151 constitutional amendment bills. These bills aim to improve governance in Nigeria, covering a wide range of topics. A significant challenge identified is the duplication of bills addressing similar issues. To address this, the committee has categorized the bills into seven thematic areas:
Federal Structure and Power Devolution:
This area focuses on the balance of power between the federal and state governments.
- Local Government Autonomy: This addresses the independence and authority of local governments.
- Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation: This covers the distribution of government resources.
- Nigerian Police and Security Architecture: This tackles reforms in the nation’s security apparatus.
Comprehensive Judicial Reforms: This aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system. - Electoral Reforms: This area focuses on improving the electoral process.
- Gender Issues and Human Rights: This focuses on advancing gender equality and protecting human rights.
- State Creation: This area deals with new state creation requests.
This categorization will aid in prioritizing amendments based on national interest and legislative relevance. The committee noted the crucial intersection between constitutional amendments and electoral laws, emphasizing that any changes to the Electoral Act requiring constitutional alterations must be reviewed by the committee.
Public Hearings and Transparency:
The next phase of the constitutional review involves Zonal and National Public Hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These hearings will allow citizens to contribute to the amendment process.
The scheduled locations for these hearings are: North Central (Nasarawa and Niger States), North East (Borno and Gombe States), North West (Kaduna and Sokoto States), South East (Enugu and Imo States), South-South (Bayelsa and Cross River States), and South West (Lagos and Ondo States). Kalu stressed the committee’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity, ensuring that the final amendments reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
Conclusion:
The review of the 1999 Constitution is a complex and multifaceted process, requiring careful consideration of numerous proposals and a commitment to transparency and inclusivity. While the initial wave of state creation requests did not meet the constitutional criteria, the extended deadline and planned public hearings demonstrate the committee’s dedication to incorporating the voices of all Nigerians into the process. The successful navigation of the 151 amendment bills, categorized by thematic areas, will be crucial to shaping Nigeria’s governance structure for the future. The committee’s ongoing work highlights the dynamic nature of constitutional reform and its crucial role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
