Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, FCT
The House of Representatives has dismissed recent media reports suggesting that it is proposing the creation of 31 new states, clarifying that the information is inaccurate and does not reflect the legislative process currently underway.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and made available to Truth Live News and other reputable media houses, the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., emphasized that the House Committee on Constitution Review (HCCR), chaired by the Deputy Speaker, had received 31 proposals for state creation. These proposals, he explained, were submitted as private member bills and do not constitute the official position of the House.
During the plenary session, the Deputy Speaker, in his role as Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, outlined the constitutional requirements necessary for such bills to progress. He stated that the proposals were being reviewed in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), which sets stringent conditions for state creation.
Quoting the relevant constitutional provisions, the Deputy Speaker detailed the necessary legislative hurdles:
> “An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if (a) It is 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, he clarified the procedures regarding Local Government Council creation, referencing Section 8(3) of the Constitution, which mandates that the outcome of referenda conducted by State Houses of Assembly must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
The House Committee on Constitution Review has instructed all interested parties to resubmit their proposals in line with the stipulated requirements. The statement read:
> “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.”
Emphasizing the rigorous nature of the constitutional amendment process, Rep. Rotimi assured Nigerians that the House of Representatives will adhere strictly to due process. He reiterated that every submission will be subjected to thorough legislative scrutiny, including public hearings, stakeholder engagements, and multiple levels of approval before any constitutional changes can take effect.
For clarity, the House Spokesman noted that the Deputy Speaker, in his capacity as Presiding Officer at the plenary, had merely read an announcement from the Clerk of the Constitution Review Committee, which he chairs. He assured Nigerians that only proposals meeting the constitutional requirements would be considered.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and inclusivity in the constitutional review process, assuring citizens that their voices would be heard.