EXCLUSIVE: Proposals for creation of 31 new states 'brought in dead' | TheCable

Published 2 months ago• 3 minute read

February 10, 2025 10:52 am

Tajudeen Abass, speaker of the house of representatives

Proposals for the creation of 31 new states submitted to the house of representatives are effectively dead even before consideration, TheCable can report.

According to a principal officer of the house who declined to be named, none of the proposals adhered to the laid-down constitutional procedures and can, therefore, not progress to the next stage.

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house and chairman of the constitution review committee, had announced during plenary on February 6 that the green chamber had received the proposals but said they “should be re-submitted in strict adherence” to constitutional stipulations by March 5, 2025.

However, a lawmaker who spoke to TheCable said the proposals are dead on arrival.

“The starting point, according to the requirements for the creation of states as contained in section 8(1)(a) of the constitution, is the collection of signatures from at least two-thirds of the elected representatives of the affected areas in both chambers of the national assembly and the state houses of assembly. None of this was done. That kills the proposals,” he said.

“The proposals were submitted by public memoranda and private members’ bills and that was what the clerk of the committee communicated to the house. The deputy speaker read the letter and drew attention to the procedural anomaly, but many media outlets reported it wrongly, saying the house had created 31 new states.”

TheCable understands that none of the proposals added the “proof of support” required by the constitution — which is the signatures of two-thirds of serving legislators, both national and state, from the areas to be affected by state creation.

“In some instances, people just submitted memorandum for the creation of a particular state without listing the local government areas that will constitute the proposed entity. It was basically a shabby job,” the lawmaker said.

“The process is not as simple as just sending a memorandum to the committee.”

Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution lists a number of steps.

STEP ONE: A proposal signed by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of (1) the senate (2) the house of representatives (3) and the house of assembly.

STEP TWO: The request is passed to the national assembly.

STEP THREE: The proposal is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least a two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for the creation of the state originated.

STEP FOUR: The result of the referendum is approved by a simple majority of all the 36 states of the federation, supported by a simple majority of members of the 36 houses of assembly.

STEP FIVE: The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of members of (1) the senate (2) the house of representatives.