The House of Representatives has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda on the creation of new states and local governments to March 26, 2025, following requests from the public for more time to revise and submit their legislative proposals.
The decision to extend the deadline was made after the House concluded its Monday plenary session, responding to the widespread demand for an extended period to fine-tune and align proposals with the constitutional provisions outlined in Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In a statement issued by House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, the chamber clarified that only proposals which meet the specific legal requirements would be considered by lawmakers.
Notably, proposals must garner the support of at least a two-thirds majority from elected representatives at various levels, including the Senate, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, and local government councils within the affected areas.
Additionally, the statement emphasized that any proposal for the creation of a new local government would need to be accompanied by voting results from the State House of Assembly, as well as the outcome of a referendum. These must be forwarded to the National Assembly for immediate action before the creation process can proceed.
It is worth noting that the House Committee on Constitution Review had previously confirmed that none of the proposals submitted for the creation of an additional 31 states met the necessary constitutional requirements.
To ensure a seamless submission process, the House outlined that three hard copies of proposals should be delivered to the Secretariat of the Committee Room H331 in the House of Representatives White House within the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Additionally, soft copies must be emailed to info@hccr.gov.ng by the new deadline of Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, reaffirmed that the House’s primary objective is to facilitate a thorough, transparent, and constitutionally compliant process for addressing public demands for new states and local governments.
He emphasized that the House is committed to ensuring that all legislative actions are in full alignment with democratic principles and serve the best interests of the Nigerian people.
“The House is resolute in its dedication to upholding the Constitution and responding to the legitimate aspirations of our citizens, ensuring that all proposals meet the required legal framework,” Kalu stated.
This extension gives stakeholders ample time to submit their revised proposals, ensuring that the process of creating new states and local governments is carried out with careful deliberation and constitutional compliance.
