ABUJA — The upper chamber of the House of Assembly has highlighted the conditions under which a new state can be created in the federation.
Noting that the lawmakers cannot propose the creation of new states, the senate indicated that it can only approve the creation of states if it tallies with the provision of the constitution.
The provisions of the constitution on the creation of new states are contained in section 8 of the 1999 Constitution.
A subsection of the constitution demands a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area; and approval by a two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.
This information was contained in a statement by the Senate Spokesperson and Chairman, Senate Committee of Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru.
In the statement, the Senate debunked the media reports that its Committee for the Review of 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of additional 20 states.
Bashiru described the reports as a gross misrepresentation of the decision of the committee on the request for the creation of more states.
“Our attention has been drawn to a media report that the Senate Committee of Review of 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of additional 20 States.
”The report is a gross misrepresentation of the decision of the committee on the request for creation of more states,” he said.
Bashiru noted that the committee declared that it is not in a position to recommend or propose the creation of any state unless it complies with the provisions of section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended.
He explained that rather than recommend the creation of any new state, the Senate Committee only acknowledged the bills proposing the creation of new states and decided to redirect them to INEC in compliance with the mandate of the constitution.
” Far from recommending the creation of any state, the Senate Committee, while acknowledging receipts of several bills proposing the creation of new states, decided that it is not in a position to recommend or proposed the creation of any state unless there is compliance with the provisions of section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended.
“In view of the above, the Senate Committee is not in a position to propose the creation of any state as reported. Rather the committee decided to refer the requests received to the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure compliance with section 8 of the Constitution by conducting a referendum in the areas if the requests supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new State) in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in the area,” he added.
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