Constitution Review: NASS Receives 55 Requests For New States, 278 LGAs
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin says the National Assembly has received 55 requests for the creation of new states and 278 local governments.
He said that the requests were among the 69 bills being considered for amendment of the Nigerian Constitution by the National Assembly.
Barau made this known on Friday at the opening of a joint two-day retreat of the Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, holding in Lagos.
He said that the retreat was to allow both commitees to review the proposed amendments “clause-by-clause.”
“We have been in this process for the past two years, engaging our constituents, critical stakeholders, institutions, civil society organizations and interest groups; in town hall meetings, interactive sessions and public hearings, harvesting and synthesizing views and perspectives which has ultimately culminated to what we have here today.
“We have 69 bills, 55 state creations requests, two boundary adjustment and 278 Local Government creation requests. As a committee, we are expected to resolve and make recommendations to our colleagues in both Chambers on these proposals.
“It is not going to be a simple task to achieve within two days, but I believe we can do it, especially as we have promised Nigerians that we will deliver the first set of amendments to the State Houses of Assembly before the end of this year.”
The Deputy Senate President expressed the belief that they could deliver the amendments if the lawmakers work with open mind.
“I believe we can deliver on this promise if we engage the bills and the issues with open mind. I acknowledge that we represent constituents with diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic cleavages through different political platforms, but the Constitution is the grundnorm for Nigerian citizens and nationhood, which we must approach with patriotism and nationalism as our higher shared goals,” Barau said.
He urged the lawmakers to prioritise “what serves the citizens of Nigeria better and not be competitive” in the debate on the bills.
“We are seated here as one Committee. There should be no “we” and “them”, but the interests of our people and our country should guide us.
“I wish all of us a very fruitful deliberation and hope for recommendations that will meet the approval threshold of the provisions of Section 9 of the Constitution.”
