The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda on the creation of additional states and local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.
In a circular signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the new deadline is now March 26, 2025, replacing the initial March 5, 2025 date.
According to Kalu, the extension follows public requests for additional time to submit proposals. He reiterated the Committee’s commitment to supporting legitimate efforts in line with the constitutional framework.
The Committee emphasized that all proposals must comply with Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal process for state and LGA creation.
Requests must be supported by at least a two-thirds majority of representatives from the affected area.
Kalu further stated that endorsements must come from:
The Senate and House of Representatives
The House of Assembly of the affected area
The Local Government Councils in the area seeking state or LGA creation
For LGA creation, the Committee referenced Section 8(3), which requires that:
“Additionally, soft copies of the proposals should be sent electronically to [email protected].”
For further inquiries, the Committee directed the public to contact the Clerk, Wali Shehu, stressing that only compliant proposals will be considered.
The Committee also reminded advocates for the creation of additional LGAs that Section 8 of the Constitution applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8(3), the outcomes of votes by the State Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.”
The statement added that submissions should be made in triplicate to the Secretariat of the Committee, Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Similarly, soft copies must also be sent electronically to [email protected].
The statement also directed further inquiries to the Clerk of the Committee, Wali Shehu, emphasizing that only proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines will be considered.