By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review of the 1999 Constitution has disclosed its receipt of different proposal for the creation of additional new 31 states across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Chairman of the committee and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this in a letter from his committee which was read during sitting yesterday, at the National Assembly.
According to the committee, all the proposals cover several various regions of the country with five that suggested states from the North Central zone of the country and four of the request come from the North East as well as other five from the North West and five from the South Eastern part of the country.
In his submission, Kalu informed that there were certain detailing and specific requirements for the approval of any new state creation, noting that from all the proposals for consideration of new state creation, four were from the South-South region while seven came from the South-West.
The proposed new states are Okun, Okura and Confluence from Kogi; and Benue Ala and Apa from Benue.
There were also proposals for creation of FCT State; Amana from Adamawa, Katagum from Bauchi, Savannah from Borno, and Muri from Taraba State.
There were also proposal for creation of Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna,Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti and Orashi from the South East; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba from the South East. Additionally, Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, and several states from the South West like Ondo, Ibadan, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun are also under consideration.
The letter pointed out that Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution provides the legal framework for the creation of new states even as the committee expressed optimism in following all the lay down procedures.
The proposal for a new state will only proceed if it is supported by at least a third of the members of the Senate, House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and the relevant Local Government Council.
According to the Committee, there are certain statutory obligation that must be met among which includes, states referendum which is in harmony with Section 8.3 of the Constitution and must be submitted to the National Assembly for further consideration and subsequent discussion.
Again, Kalu further clarified that all proposals must strictly adhere to constitutional procedures which involved submission of three hard copies as well as an electronic version of the full proposal to be submitted to the committee’s for consideration.
He, however reaffirmed his committee commitment to ensuring that any state creation efforts is in harmony with constitutional provisions and will only review request that meet the expectation and guideline for the purpose of new states creation.
