By Dansu Peter The House of Representatives has set a deadline of March 5 for agitators seeking the creation of new states to rectify def...
By Dansu Peter
Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, cautioned applicants not to misinterpret the announcement of received proposals as an assurance of state creation. Speaking in Abuja, he emphasized that the rigorous constitutional hurdles must be met before any new state can be established.
Kalu clarified that the number of proposals received is 30, not 31, as previously reported. He explained that errors in documentation had led to duplication, particularly with Ibadan State being listed twice.
According to Section 8, Subsections 1 to 3 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the process of state creation requires:
- A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate
- A two-thirds majority vote in the House of Representatives
- Endorsement by State Houses of Assembly
- Endorsement by Local Government Vouncils
Kalu stressed that none of the current proposals have satisfied these conditions, prompting the House to issue a public notice granting applicants until March 5 to rectify the gaps in their applications.
“We are the people’s parliament, and we are not taking a position on state creation,” Kalu said. “However, Nigerians must follow the constitutional guidelines. As things stand, none of the 30 proposals meet the requirements of Section 8.”
The House has pledged to publish public announcements in newspapers to guide applicants on the necessary steps for compliance.
“There is no shortcut,” he added. “The provisions of the Constitution are sacrosanct. If you believe your state creation request is justified, you must follow due process.”
Kalu acknowledged that the surge in requests reflects a broader desire among Nigerians to bring governance closer to the grassroots and ensure equitable distribution of democratic dividends. However, he maintained that the parliament remains neutral and will only act based on constitutional provisions and public interest.
“We understand the sentiment behind these demands, but we must weigh all options carefully,” he said. “It is not for me to judge whether creating more states will address perceived marginalization. Our role is to facilitate a transparent, fair, and lawful process.”
In response to Afenifere’s argument that states should be allowed to control their resources instead of creating new ones, Kalu said the parliament would consider all perspectives.
“We listen to all sides,” he said. “Every proposal will be analyzed, debated, and processed in line with what Nigerians want.”
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List of Proposed States
The 30 proposed states span across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones:North-Central:
- Benue Ala State (Benue)
- Okun State (Kogi)
- Okura State (Kogi)
- Confluence State (Kogi)
- Apa-Agba State (Benue South)
- Apa State (Benue)
North-East:
- Amana State (Adamawa)
- Katagum State (Bauchi)
- Savannah State (Borno)
- Muri State (Taraba)
North-West:
- New Kaduna State & Gurara State (Kaduna)
- Tiga State (Kano)
- Kainji State (Kebbi)
- Ghari State (Kano)
South-East:
- Etiti State
- Adada State (Enugu)
- Urashi State
- Orlu State
- Aba State
South-South:
- Ogoja State (Cross River)
- Warri State (Delta)
- Bori State (Rivers)
- Obolo State (Rivers & Akwa Ibom)
South-West:
- Toru-Ebe State (Delta, Edo, Ondo)
- Ibadan State (Oyo)
- Lagoon State (Lagos)
- Ijebu State (Ogun)
- Oke-Ogun State (Ogun)
- Ife-Ijesha State (Oyo & Osun)
With the March 5 deadline approaching, the ball is now in the court of the state creation proponents to comply with the constitutional process or risk having their requests dismissed.
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