The senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution says it will consider 31 proposals for state creation as part of a fresh bid to amend Nigeria’s constitution.
Barau Jibrin, deputy president of the senate and chairman of the committee, said the proposals will be reviewed during a two-day zonal public hearing scheduled for July 4 and 5, 2025.
The hearings will take place simultaneously in Lagos (south-west), Enugu (south-east), Ikot Ekpene (south-south), Jos (north-central), Maiduguri (north-east), and Kano (north-west).
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ismail Mudashir, special adviser on media and publicity to the deputy senate president, said the committee is committed to gathering citizens’ input on a wide range of constitutional amendments.
Mudashir said the committee received five state creation requests from the south-west, south-south and north-central zones; seven from the north-east; six from the north-west; and three from the south-east.
He added that the committee will also consider critical national issues such as local government autonomy, judicial and electoral reforms, state police, and inclusive governance.
According to him, one of the bills proposes to entrench local governments as a constitutionally recognised tier of government with guaranteed tenure.
“The second bill on local government reforms seeks to create an independent National Local Government Electoral Commission (NALGEC) to organise, conduct and supervise local government elections,” the statement reads.
“Also to be considered during the zonal public hearing are two bills on security and policing for the establishment of state police and state security council to coordinate internal security policies at the sub-national level.
“In the area of fiscal reforms, six bills are going to be considered including the one to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance of remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account and streamline the procedure for reviewing the revenue allocation formula.
“Also, on fiscal reforms, a bill to alter the provisions of the constitution to specify the period within which the president or the governor of a state shall present the appropriation bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly will be discussed during the hearing.”
He said the committee will also consider a bill seeking additional legislative seats for women in the national and state assemblies as part of efforts to enhance gender inclusion.
Mudashir said a proposal to establish national, state, and local government councils of traditional rulers will also be reviewed to strengthen traditional institutions.
On electoral reform, he said bills to allow independent candidacy at all levels and to enable diaspora voting are also on the agenda.
He said more than 20 bills on judicial reform will be considered, including those proposing judgment delivery timelines and expanded jurisdiction for election tribunals.
He added that some proposals aim to devolve powers by moving items such as labour and shipping from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.
Mudashir implored citizens to actively participate in the zonal hearings, noting that public engagement is critical to the constitutional amendment process.
On June 13, Osita Izunaso, senator representing Imo west, said the red chamber is considering a bill for the creation of ‘Anim state’ in south-east geopolitical zone.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Izunaso said the bill has passed second reading and is now before the committee on constitution review.
The proposed state, he explained, would be carved out of parts of Anambra and Imo.
