By Comfort Olayinka
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda concerning the creation of additional states and local governments in Nigeria.
The new deadline is set for March 26, 2025, providing an extension from the previously announced March 5 date.
The extension follows requests from the public for additional time, according to a circular released by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Review Committee, on Monday.
Kalu reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to supporting legitimate efforts in line with constitutional provisions.
In the announcement, Kalu reminded proponents that all submissions must adhere to the constitutional requirements, particularly Section 8(1), which mandates that proposals must be supported by a two-thirds majority of representatives from the affected area, as well as the approval of the State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils.
Additionally, advocates for the creation of new Local Government Areas are reminded that the process also follows Section 8 of the Constitution, requiring outcomes from State Houses of Assembly and referendums to be submitted to the National Assembly.
Submissions are to be made in triplicate to the Committee’s Secretariat at Room H331, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, with electronic copies sent to info@hccr.gov.ng. For more details, inquiries can be directed to the Committee Clerk, Wali Shehu.
