Good news for all aspiring state and local government creators—your dreams of carving out new territories aren’t over just yet! The House of Representatives has graciously extended the deadline for submitting memoranda on state and LG creation to March 26, 2025. So, if you’ve been secretly sketching your dream state map with your area as the capital, you still have time to make it official!
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, explained that the extension was in response to public demand. Apparently, the original deadline had people scrambling like last-minute exam crammers. Now, everyone gets extra time to cross their T’s, dot their I’s, and convince lawmakers that their proposed states aren’t just wishful thinking.
For context, on February 7, 2025, the House Committee on Constitution Review revealed that it had received 31 proposals for new states. The problem? Not one met the constitutional requirements—talk about a collective F9! But don’t worry, the House is giving everyone a second chance to do their homework properly.
To qualify, proposals must have at least a two-thirds majority backing from elected representatives across the Senate, House of Reps, State House of Assembly, and Local Government Councils. In short, you need more signatures than a celebrity petition to get your request considered.
For local government creation, your proposal must pass the state House of Assembly’s test, survive a referendum, and then make its way to the National Assembly for approval. So, if you were hoping to wake up one day and declare yourself “Chairman of New Lagos North,” it’s going to take a bit more work.
Submissions must be in three hard copies (because what’s a legislative process without paperwork?) and sent to Room H331 at the National Assembly Complex. A soft copy should also be emailed to [email protected]. Mark your calendar—March 26 is your final chance to get your proposal in.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, reassured Nigerians that the process is all about democracy and due process. “We want to ensure that all aspirations for state and local government creation are handled with fairness and in line with constitutional provisions,” he said.
Translation? No shortcuts, no backyard declarations, and certainly no “my uncle knows somebody in the House” arrangements.
So, dear Nigerians, if you believe your town deserves an upgrade, get those proposals ready. But remember, naming a state after yourself isn’t a winning strategy—unless you can convince two-thirds of the country to agree!
