The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has received 31 proposals for creating new states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with conditions outlined for approval, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, read a letter from the committee during plenary, outlining the conditions for approving state creation requests.
The letter revealed proposals for new states, including 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.
Some of the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence in Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa in Benue; FCT State; Amana in Adamawa; Katagum in Bauchi; Savannah in Borno; and Muri in Taraba.
The states also include New Kaduna state and Gujarat states from Kaduna state; Tiga and Ari 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 include Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, 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 for initiating the process of state creation.
The letter states that a request to the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if a request supported by at least two-thirds majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.
“Local Government Advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8.3 of the Constitution, 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.
“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. 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, and Abuja.
“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.
“The Committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.”
