… Mulls raising states to 67
.As number of LGAs sets to soar on the back of financial autonomy
Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
The House of Representatives Special Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has recommended the creation of 31 new states in the federation of Nigeria making it a total of 67 states and the federal capital territory.
This was contained in a letter read by Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who also doubles as the Chairman of the House Constitution Review Committee at plenary of the House on Thursday.
The proposal showed that the committee wanted six new states in the North-Central, four in the North-East, five in the North-West, five in the South-East, seven in the South-West and four in the South-South regions.
These include Okun State, Okura State, and Confluence State from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa States from Benue; FCT State; Amana State from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi State; Savannah State from Borno; and Muri State from Taraba.
Others are New Kaduna State and Gujarat State from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the Southeast; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the SouthEast, 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, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun states.
Specifically, in accordance with Section 8.3 of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in a referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfilment of state demands”; the recommendation reported stated.
“As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:. New state and boundaries. 1. An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.
“The House of Representatives, 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”.
