10th National Assembly and the state creation jinx (Page 1,184)

By ‘Wale Sadeeq, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The House of Representatives, on February 6, stirred the hornet’s nest on the contentious issue of state creation with the announcement that it had received proposals for creation of 31 new states.

This development once again brings to the fore the long-standing discussions on the challenges of creating states in Nigeria, a process that has been a subject of legislative deliberations since the country gained independence in 1960.

Presiding over the plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu disclosed that the House Committee on Constitution Review had received proposals for the creation of additional states, which, if approved, would increase Nigeria’s total number of states from 36 to 67.

According to Kalu, who read out the proposals during the plenary, the new states under consideration include six from the North-Central, four from the North-East, five from the North-West, five from the South-South, and seven from the South-West.

More specifically, the proposed states are Okun, Okura, and Confluence (from Kogi), Benue Ala and Apa (from Benue), FCT State, Amana (from Adamawa), Katagum (from Bauchi), Savannah (from Borno), Muri (from Taraba), New Kaduna and Gurara (from Kaduna).

They include Tiga and Ari (from Kano), Kainji (from Kebbi), Etiti and Orashi (from the South-East), Adada (from Enugu), and Orlu and Aba.

Others are Ogoja (from Cross River), Warri (from Delta), Ori and Obolo (from Rivers), Torumbe (from Ondo), Ibadan (from Oyo), Lagoon (from Lagos), Ogun and Ijebu (from Ogun), and Oke Ogun/Ijesha (from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States).

Subsequently, the House Committee on Constitution Review issued a notice, signed by Kalu in his capacity as committee chairman, directing proponents of the new states to re-submit their requests in line with Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The committee has reviewed the proposals for state creation in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Constitution. This section specifies the requirements that must be met before initiating the process.

“Therefore, proponents must re-submit their requests in strict compliance with these provisions,” Kalu stated.

As expected, the announcement triggered nationwide debates.

Various socio-political groups, ethnic organisations, civil society bodies, human rights organisations, and other stakeholders expressed divergent opinions on the matter, which has remained a recurring issue in Nigeria’s political landscape.

On one hand, some argue that state creation is long overdue and that the current proposals are justified.

On the other, critics vehemently oppose the move, insisting that creating more states will not resolve marginalisation or political exclusivity, which are the main grievances behind these demands.

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), for instance, acknowledged that state creation could only be meaningful if all geopolitical zones had an equal number of states, as agreed upon in the 2014 constitutional conference.

However, it also raised concerns about the economic viability of such an endeavour.

“It is within the people’s rights to demand new states. However, during the last constitutional conference, it was agreed that each geopolitical zone should have seven states, as is the case in the North-West.

“Therefore, the South-East should get two additional states to make up seven, while the South-West should also receive additional states for balance.

“But the real question is: Will these states be viable? Can they sustain themselves? The vision of our founding fathers was for states to control their resources and remit taxes to the centre,” said PANDEF’s spokesperson, Christopher Ominimini.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA) has warned that state creation is not the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

In fact, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, Director-General of CCLCA, argued that instead of solving issues, additional states would further strain Nigeria’s already fragile economy.

“It is evident that creating more states is not a viable solution to our national challenges. On the contrary, it could exacerbate existing problems.

“Nigeria currently has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yet many of these states struggle to meet basic financial obligations, including payment of the minimum wage of ₦70,000. Some are already on the brink of insolvency.

“Creating new states will only increase administrative costs and worsen the financial burden on the federation,” Nwambu argued.

Similarly, Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, cautioned against the mass creation of states.

He stated that while it may be reasonable to adjust state numbers for equity, especially in the South-East, adding 31 new states at once would put unsustainable pressure on national resources.

“The demand for additional states is a recurring issue in constitutional debates, often driven by ethnic, political, and regional considerations rather than economic viability.

“Nigeria is already struggling to sustain its 36 states, many of which depend largely on federal allocations rather than internally generated revenue.

“Expanding the number of states without a strategic economic plan could worsen the fiscal crisis,” Itodo warned.

He further stressed that rather than creating new states, a more effective approach would be to strengthen existing states, improve governance, and ensure equitable resource distribution.

Beyond economic concerns, legal experts and political analysts have also pointed out the constitutional hurdles involved in state creation.

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, Akeem Agbaje, dismissed the proposal as unrealistic.

He argued that most existing states are not even self-sustaining, making the idea of additional states impractical.

“Instead of pushing for new states, leaders should focus on addressing marginalisation through tailored policies and developmental projects,” Agbaje advised.

Similarly, Public Affairs Analyst Jide Ojo argued that state creation should not be a priority at this time, especially given Nigeria’s rising governance costs.

“At present, many states struggle to pay salaries. If we further divide them, how will the new administrative units be funded? Sustainability should be our focus.

“In fact, there are now calls for merging some states to improve viability and governance efficiency,” he noted.

From a constitutional perspective, analysts believe that creating states under a civilian government may be highly unlikely.

Former Chairman of the defunct ANPP in Imo, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze-Ajumbe, emphasised that the complex constitutional requirements make state creation almost impossible under civilian rule.

“The lawmakers are simply keeping us busy while the economy continues to deteriorate. The process of creating new states is highly rigorous, making it virtually impossible under a civilian government,” Orikeze-Ajumbe argued.

Since independence, state creation in Nigeria has been largely a military-driven process.

The last time states were created was in 1996, when Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime established six new states: Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Zamfara.

Before that, in 1991, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida created nine states in response to widespread agitations, adding to earlier state formations by previous military governments.

Even though these states were established to promote governance accessibility and ethnic inclusivity, critics argue that they have not addressed marginalisation or political dominance by larger ethnic groups.

Given the cumbersome constitutional process and financial implications, the success of the 10th National Assembly’s move to create new states will depend on its ability to navigate complex political and legal challenges.

Whether or not it can break the long-standing jinx remains to be seen. (NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

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10th National Assembly and the state creation jinx (Page 1,184)

By ‘Wale Sadeeq, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)