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.
According to a circular signed on Monday by the Deputy Speaker and Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the new deadline is now March 26, 2025, instead of the previously announced March 5, 2025.
Kalu explained that the extension follows public requests for additional time, reaffirming the Committee’s commitment to supporting legitimate proposals that align with constitutional provisions.
The Committee also reminded proponents of state and LGA creation that all submissions must strictly comply with Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
Under this section, any request for a new state must be backed by at least a two-thirds majority of:
1. Members representing the affected area in the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).
2. The House of Assembly of the concerned state.
3. The Local Government Councils within the proposed new state.
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For the creation of additional LGAs, Section 8(3) of the Constitution mandates that the results of votes by State Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be submitted to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
The Committee emphasized that all submissions must be made in triplicate and delivered to its Secretariat at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Additionally, soft copies must be sent electronically to info@hccr.gov.ng.
For further inquiries, the statement directed interested parties to contact the Clerk of the Committee, Wali Shehu. It also stressed that only proposals meeting the stipulated guidelines will be considered.
