Barau: 55 new states, 278 LGAs proposed in ongoing constitution amendment

Jibrin Barau, deputy senate president, says the national assembly’s joint committee on the review of the 1999 constitution is considering 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 LGA creation requests.

Barau spoke at a two-day retreat of the senate and house of representatives committees on constitution review held in Lagos.

In a statement by Ismail Mudashir, his special adviser on media and publicity, Barau said the exercise reflects the national assembly’s commitment to delivering people-centred and timely amendments.

He urged lawmakers to ensure that the first set of amendments is transmitted to state houses of assembly before the end of the year.

“It has been a long journey to bring the senate and the house of representatives constitution amendment proposals that cut across several sections and deal with different subject matters,” Barau said.

“We have been in this process for the past two years, engaging our constituents, critical stakeholders, institutions, civil society organisations, and interest groups — in town hall meetings, interactive sessions, and public hearings — harvesting and synthesising views and perspectives which have culminated in what we have here today

“69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation requests.”

Barau, who chairs the senate committee on constitution review, said the lawmakers are expected to resolve the issues raised and make recommendations to both chambers.

“It is not going to be a simple task to achieve within two days, but I believe we can do it, especially as we have promised Nigerians that we will deliver the first set of amendments to the state houses of assembly before the end of this year,” he said.

“I believe we can deliver on this promise if we engage the bills and the issues with open minds.

“I acknowledge that we represent constituents with diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic cleavages through different political platforms, but the constitution is the grundnorm for Nigerian citizens and nationhood, which we must approach with patriotism and nationalism as higher shared goals.”

Barau, who also serves as the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, urged lawmakers to focus on what best serves Nigerians and to avoid divisive or competitive debates.

“We are seated here as one committee. There should be no ‘we’ and ‘them’. We should be guided by the interests of Nigerians,” he added.

“I wish all of us a very fruitful deliberation and hope for recommendations that will meet the approval threshold of the provisions of section 9 of the constitution.”