IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) has extended the deadline for submitting memoranda on the creation of new states and local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, announced that the new deadline is now March 26, 2025, replacing the previously scheduled March 5, 2025.
Hon. Kalu explained that the extension was granted in response to public appeals for more time. He reassured Nigerians that the Committee remains committed to considering legitimate proposals in line with constitutional provisions.
The Committee emphasized that all submissions must strictly adhere to Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that requests for state creation must be backed by at least a two-thirds majority of:
Members representing the affected area in the Senate and House of Representatives,
The House of Assembly of the concerned state, and
The Local Government Councils within the affected area.
Similarly, those proposing the creation of new LGAs must comply with Section 8(3), which mandates that voting results from State Houses of Assembly and the referendum be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
Submissions must be made in triplicate to the Committee’s Secretariat at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Soft copies should also be sent via email to info@hccr.gov.ng.
For further inquiries, stakeholders are advised to contact the Clerk of the Committee, Wali Shehu. The Committee reiterated that only proposals meeting the required constitutional guidelines will be considered.
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