NASS Committee Approves Creation of 6 New States
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review has taken a significant step towards constitutional reform by approving the creation of six new states, one in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
If ratified, this landmark decision will increase the number of states in the country from 36 to 42, with a notable redistribution of states across the zones.
Specifically, the North-west will have eight states, the North-east and North-central will have seven states each, the South-west and South-south will have seven states each, while the South-east will have six states.
To further flesh out the details of this proposal, a sub-committee has been established, chaired by Senator Tahir Monguno, to determine the specific areas from which the six new states will be created.
This sub-committee will play a crucial role in identifying the exact boundaries and locations of the proposed new states.
The committee’s decision was reached after a thorough review of 55 proposals for new states and 278 requests for the creation of additional local government areas from various interest groups across the country.
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The proposals were deliberated upon during a two-day retreat held in Lagos, which provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the merits and challenges of creating new states.
Once the sub-committee completes its work, the proposals will be presented to lawmakers for debate and voting on the floor of the National Assembly.
If approved, the proposals will then be transmitted to the President for final assent, marking a significant milestone in the country’s constitutional history.
The creation of new states has been a contentious issue in Nigeria, with proponents arguing that it will promote more equitable development, enhance governance, and bring government closer to the people.
However, the process of creating new states is governed by Section 8 of Nigeria’s constitution, which outlines specific requirements and procedures that must be followed.
These include obtaining a formal request signed by at least two-thirds of the elected representatives from the area seeking a new state, approval in a referendum by at least a two-thirds majority of the people in the area, endorsement by a simple majority of all the states in the federation, and finally, approval by a two-thirds majority of members in each chamber of the National Assembly.
With these requirements in place, the journey towards creating new states is set to be a rigorous but potentially transformative process for Nigeria’s federal structure.
