From Victor Osula, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has received a proposal for the creation of 31 new states in the country.
Chairman of the committee and deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this to members while reading a letter from the committee, clerk during plenary.
Kalu said the committee received a proposal for six new states for North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West, five in South East, four in South-South, and seven in South West
Among the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala and Apa (Benue); FCT State; Amana (Adamawa); Katagum (Bauchi); Savannah (Borno); and Muri (Taraba).
The Southeast list includes Etiti, Orashi, Adada (Enugu), Orlu, and Aba, while the South-South includes Ogoja (Cross River), Warri (Delta), and Ori and Obolo (Rivers).
The Southwest’s proposals include Ibadan, Lagoon (Lagos), and Ijebu (Ogun).
The committee outlined the criteria that must be met to initiate the state creation process.
Among the requirements include an act of the National Assembly to create a new state to be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.
Other criteria according to the committee are, “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.
“Specifically, by Section 8.3 of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfillment of state demands.
“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee in Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja. Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj.”
