The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendment has dismissed all 31 proposals for the creation of new states in Nigeria, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements. This decision has sparked nationwide debate, with proponents of state creation expressing disappointment while constitutional experts laud the move as a safeguard against legal and administrative inefficiencies.
Constitutional Benchmarks Not Met
House of Representatives: The committee emphasized that the proposed states failed to meet key constitutional provisions outlined in Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates specific requirements such as a referendum, majority legislative approval, and the backing of two-thirds of state assemblies. Lawmakers argued that the proposals lacked the necessary legislative and popular support to justify their creation.
Furthermore, legal analysts have pointed out that the process of state creation in Nigeria is intentionally rigorous to prevent arbitrary fragmentation. The committee’s decision aligns with previous judicial precedents that stress the necessity of broad-based consensus before new states can be carved out from existing ones.
Growing Agitation for More States
House of Representatives: Despite the rejection, various ethnic and regional groups have persistently advocated for the creation of additional states, citing marginalization, governance inefficiency, and the need for equitable resource distribution. Among the rejected proposals were requests for states like Etiti, Tiga, and New Oyo, each backed by local stakeholders hoping for greater administrative autonomy.
Supporters argue that new states would bring governance closer to the people and promote economic development. However, critics warn that more states could exacerbate financial dependency on the federal government, as many existing states struggle to generate internal revenue independently.
House of Representatives Stresses Financial Viability
House of Representatives: One of the key concerns raised by the House Committee was the financial sustainability of new states. Lawmakers noted that Nigeria’s current 36-state structure already places significant strain on federal allocations, with many states relying heavily on revenue from the central government rather than internally generated funds.
Economic analysts argue that instead of creating new states, the focus should be on strengthening local governance and enhancing fiscal responsibility. The rejection aligns with the government’s broader push for financial prudence and the devolution of power to existing administrative units rather than adding new ones.
Implications for Federalism and Governance
The decision to reject the proposals highlights broader issues within Nigeria’s federal structure, including debates on devolution, resource control, and regional representation. While proponents of state creation view it as a step toward true federalism, the House Committee’s decision underscores the need for more comprehensive constitutional reforms before new states can be considered.
Some political commentators suggest that the failure of the proposals indicates deeper structural inefficiencies in Nigeria’s governance model. They argue that rather than increasing the number of states, there should be reforms that empower existing states to function more autonomously.
Reactions from Stakeholders and the Public
The rejection has elicited mixed reactions from political leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public. Some lawmakers representing the affected regions have vowed to reintroduce the proposals in future legislative sessions, insisting that their constituents deserve a more localized administrative structure.
Conversely, governance experts and policy analysts have welcomed the decision, arguing that adding new states without addressing underlying governance challenges would be counterproductive. The debate over state creation is expected to persist, with renewed calls for a constitutional review to streamline Nigeria’s federal structure.
Next Steps and Future Prospects
Although the House of Representatives has shut down the current proposals, the conversation on state creation is far from over. Advocates for new states may seek alternative routes, such as lobbying for constitutional amendments or pushing for regional autonomy within the existing framework.
Looking ahead, the National Assembly is expected to focus on broader constitutional reforms, including state policing, revenue allocation, and governance efficiency. While the dream of new states remains alive for many, significant legal and political hurdles must be overcome before such aspirations become a reality.
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