The Senate and House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the southeast to make it on parity with the south-south, southwest, north-central and northeast which have six states apiece.
Currently, the southeast has only five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The resolution was adopted yesterday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where the committee reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.
According to a statement, the session, chaired by the deputy senate president, Mr Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by the deputy speaker of the house of representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, agreed that in the spirit of fairness and equity, the federal government should create another state for the region.
The statement said Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state and was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).
Addressing the session, Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.
He underscored the need for the ongoing constitution review process to be guided by national interest, rather than individual or party interests.
He emphasised that every article, clause, and decision made during the review process should be evaluated based on what is best for Nigeria and its over 200 million citizens.
He urged the lawmakers to prioritise the nation’s interests above any other consideration to ensure that the review process delivers a constitution that truly reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
“As we deliberate, let us stay anchored on three guiding principles: Unity of Purpose: Our political differences must dissolve here. On constitutional reform, Nigeria must speak with one voice. Only through joint resolve can we deliver amendments that command national legitimacy and bipartisan support.
“Legislative Discipline: Constitutional reform is no ordinary law-making process. It requires technical precision, sober judgment, and prioritisation. Let us focus on practical, impactful amendments that enjoy broad public endorsement.
“National Interest: Every article, every clause, every decision we take must answer one question: Is this what is best for Nigeria? Not for our parties, regions, or political ambitions, but for the over 200 million Nigerians whose hopes our actions will shape,” he said.
Reacting to the decision, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) described the move as “a long-overdue act of fairness and justice.”
“No region should be structurally disadvantaged. Giving the South-east an additional state restores balance and reinforces national unity,” he remarked.
In a related development, the joint committee also established a sub-committee to further consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.
In another resolution, the committee approved one additional legislative seat for women in both chambers of the national assembly for each state of the federation.
If ratified, this amendment will create new Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seats in the house of representatives and 36 new seats in the senate, ensuring every state and the FCT has a dedicated female representation.
