The National Assembly has begun deliberations on constitutional amendments that could lead to the creation of 55 new states and 278 additional local government areas in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) during a two-day joint retreat of the Senate and House of Representatives’ Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos.
Senator Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, called on lawmakers to prioritise patriotism, unity, and national interest in their discussions.
According to Jibrin, “The process has involved two years of consultations with constituents, civil society organisations, institutions, and interest groups through town hall meetings, interactive sessions, and public hearings.
”This extensive engagement has resulted in 69 bills, including requests for 55 new states, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government areas.”
He also emphasised the commitment of the legislature to deliver people-centered and timely constitutional amendments, aimed at transmitting the first set of proposals to state Houses of Assembly before the end of the year.
“We are seated here as one committee. There should be no ‘we’ and ‘them’; we should be guided by the interests of Nigerians,” he said .
Jibrin urged the lawmakers to avoid divisive tendencies and work toward recommendations that meet the approval threshold under Section 9 of the Constitution.
The two-day retreat is expected to resolve key issues and guide both chambers in making recommendations on the proposed amendments.
