The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has put forward a proposal for the creation of 31 additional states across Nigeria.
If approved, it would expand the nation’s sub-national governments to 67.
During Thursday’s plenary session, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, read a letter outlining the recommendations of the committee.
Kalu, who also chairs the committee, detailed the proposed distribution of the new states, with six allocated to the North Central, four to the North East, five to the North West, five to the South East, four to the South-South, and seven to the South West.
The proposal stipulates that the process of creating new states must adhere to specific constitutional requirements.
These include securing the approval of at least a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, as well as obtaining endorsements from the House of Representatives, relevant State Houses of Assembly, and affected Local Government Councils.
Additionally, the committee emphasised that any new state creation must align with Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the provisions concerning local government restructuring.
As mandated by Section 8(3), a referendum conducted by State Houses of Assembly must precede any formal submission to the National Assembly for consideration.
To ensure compliance, the committee has called for the resubmission of proposals in line with prescribed guidelines.
Hard copies of memoranda are to be delivered to the committee’s Secretariat at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, while electronic copies should be sent via the designated email address.
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno; and Muri from Taraba. Others include New Kaduna and Gurara from Kaduna; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti, Orashi, Adada, Orlu, and Aba from the South East; Ogoja from Cross River; Warri from Delta; Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo; Lagoon from Lagos; Ijebu from Ogun; and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo, Ogun, and Osun.
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