NASS Joint Committee Okays Additional State For South-East
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East, increasing the region’s total to six.
The decision was reached at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where the committee reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.
Currently, the South-East has five states, fewer than the six or seven in other geopolitical zones.
The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, deliberated extensively on the matter.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka, the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency in Ogun State.
The motion received unanimous approval and was consequently adopted.
Meanwhile, the joint committee has set up a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones.
There are 55 requests for states and 278 proposals for the creation of local government councils.
In his remarks, Senator Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National and State Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.
“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process,” Jibrin said. “By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the State Houses of Assembly.”
