Reps seeks more memoranda on state creation, extends submission deadline

 

The House of Representatives, on Monday, called for more proposals for the creation of new states and local governments in Nigeria.

This followed the extension of the deadline for the submission of memoranda on the creation of new states and local governments to March 26, 2025.

House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, in a statement, said the decision followed the public demand for additional time to refine and resubmit their legislative proposals in compliance with Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Rotimi explained that to be eligible for consideration, proposals for state creation must meet specific requirements, including support from at least two-thirds majority of elected parliamentarians representing the affected area in the  Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, and local government councils.

The lawmaker added that For local government creation, the outcome of votes by the state House of Assembly and the outcome of the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative action.

According to him, The submission guidelines included three hard copies to be transmitted to the Secretariat of the Committee Room H331, House of Representatives White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja while the soft copies should be emailed to: [email protected].

Also, speaking on the matter, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, said the goal of the committee is to facilitate a thorough and constitutionally compliant process that addresses legitimate aspirations for state and local government creation.

“The House of Representatives is dedicated to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that all legislative processes align with constitutional provisions and the broader interests of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Recall that on February 7, 2025, the House Committee on Constitution Review announced that it had received memoranda to create an additional 31 states, stating, however, that none of the proposals met the constitutional requirement.