The National Assembly committee has backed the creation of a new state in the South East region.
Lawmakers say the move will ensure fairness and give the people stronger political inclusion.
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of a new state in the South East.
Once established, the South East will have six states like the South South, South West, North Central and North East. At the moment, the region has five states which are Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. The North West remains the only zone with seven states.
The decision was reached during the committee’s two day retreat in Lagos on Saturday. Lawmakers reviewed 55 different requests for new states from across the country.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin chaired the meeting, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu served as co chair. The committee agreed that fairness requires another state to be created in the region. Kalu and other lawmakers from the South East pushed strongly for the proposal, saying it would give the people a better sense of inclusion.
According to a statement by the committee’s media unit, members voted in support of the idea after a motion moved by Senator Abdul Ningi and seconded by Hon Ibrahim Isiaka. The statement said the decision was adopted without opposition.
The committee also set up a subcommittee to review more proposals for new states and local government areas. A total of 278 submissions were recorded for consideration nationwide.
Jibrin called on lawmakers to begin seeking support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and in state assemblies. He said this would help ensure the approval succeeds when voting begins.
