The House of Representatives has refuted recent media reports claiming it is proposing the creation of 31 new states, stating that the information is inaccurate and misrepresents the legislative process.
In a press statement issued by the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., the lawmakers clarified that the proposals for state creation were received as private member bills and do not reflect the official position of the House.
The statement follows an announcement made by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during Thursday’s plenary session. Kalu, who also serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review (HCCR), informed members that the Committee had received 31 submissions requesting the creation of new states. However, these proposals are still at the preliminary stage and must meet strict constitutional requirements before further legislative consideration.
Addressing the legislative requirements, the statement cited Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that any request for the creation of a new state must be “supported by at least a two-thirds majority of members representing the area demanding the new state in each of the following: the Senate and House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area, as received by the National Assembly.”
Similarly, for the creation of new Local Government Areas, the statement referenced Section 8(3) of the Constitution, noting that “the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfillment of state demands.”
To ensure compliance with constitutional provisions, the Committee on Constitution Review has directed all state creation proposals to be resubmitted with the required documentation. The House announced that proponents should “submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, not later than Wednesday, March 5, 2025.”
The House emphasized that all constitutional amendment proposals, including state creation requests, will undergo “thorough legislative scrutiny, including public hearings, stakeholder engagements, and multiple levels of approval before any constitutional changes can be effected.”
It further clarified that the Deputy Speaker was merely reading an announcement from the Clerk of the Constitution Review Committee, reaffirming that the Committee “will align with constitutional provisions and will only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”
Reaffirming its dedication to an open and participatory process, the House concluded by stating, “The House remains committed to a transparent and inclusive constitutional review process that reflects the will of the Nigerian people.”
This clarification comes amid heightened public interest and debate following reports suggesting that the National Assembly was actively pushing for the creation of 31 new states—a claim now formally dismissed by the House leadership.
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