The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution announced on Thursday that it has received 31 proposals for the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read a letter from the committee during plenary, outlining the conditions that must be met before any state creation requests can be approved.
According to the letter, the proposals include five from the North Central, four from the North East, five from the North West, five from the South East, four from the South-South, and seven from the South West.
The states being considered include Okun state, Okura state and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala, Apa-Agba and Apa states from Benue; FCT state; Amana state from Adamawa, Katagum from Bauchi state, Savannah state from Borno and Muri state from Taraba.
The states also include New Kaduna state and Gujarat states from Kaduna state; Tiga and Ghari from Kano, and Kainji from Kebbi state; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East, Adada from Enugu, Orlu abd Aba from. The South East.
They also include Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Bori and Obolo from Rivers; Toru-Ebe from Edo, Delta and Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Lagoon from Lagos and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states
According to the letters, section 8 of the 1999 Constitution as amended outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation.
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The letter signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution review committee reads in part: “The Committee has reviewed the proposals for the creation of new States in accordance with Section 8(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“This section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to mutate the s of State procescreation, which include the following, New States and boundary adjustment, etc.
“An Act of the National Assembly to create a new State shall only be passed if (a) a request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new State) in each of the following, namely – the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.
“Advocates for the creation of additional Local Government Areas are also reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8(3) of the Constitution, the outcomes of the votes by the State Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action. Proposals should be re-submitted in strict adherence to these stipulations.
“Submit three (3) hard copies of all proposals and memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee al Room H331, House of Representatives White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, no later than Wednesday, 5th March 2025. Soft comes must also be sent electronically to the committee’s email address at [email protected].
“The Committee remains committed to supporting legitimate efforts that align with constitutional provisions and will only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”
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