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Published on 2024-02-13 15:03:40
A lawmaker in the house of representatives, Oluwole Oke, has sponsored a bill that seeks to establish three additional states in Nigeria. The bill aims to create Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife Ijesa states in the southwest region, adding to the existing 36 states in the country. Oke forwarded a letter to the clerk of the house, listing the proposed states along with their capitals and the number of local governments each state would encompass.
Oluwole Oke, who represents the people of Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun state, is the chairman of the house committee on judiciary. He has taken on the initiative to propose the bill in a bid to increase the number of states in the southwest region, making it the region with the highest number of states in Nigeria. If the bill is passed into law, the southwest will indeed become the region with the highest number of states in the country.
The bill seeks to amend the first schedule, part I of the constitution to establish the new states. According to the draft bill, Oke-Ogun state will have Iseyin as its capital city and 12 local governments. Ijebu state, if created, will have Ijebu Ode as its capital, with at least nine local governments, while the Ife Ijesa state will consist of 11 local government areas, with its capital being Ile-Ife.
Legislators are expected to deliberate on the bill, and if it scales through and is passed into law, it would lead to the creation of three new states in Nigeria. The bill has sparked discussions among lawmakers, and its potential impact on the country is a subject of interest.
The southwest region is not the only area under legislative consideration for increased state creation. With the ongoing constitutional amendment at the national assembly, the possibility for new states to be created in Nigeria is being evaluated as lawmakers explore various proposals aimed at institution-building.
Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the house of representatives, has disclosed that the ongoing constitutional amendment, which includes the consideration of new state creation, is expected to be completed by December 2025. As the bill moves through the legislative process, it has garnered attention and raised important questions about the implications of increasing the number of states in Nigeria.
In addition to the proposal for new states, the House of Representatives is also considering about 47 bills that are at the second reading stage, aimed at establishing new federal universities across the country. Furthermore, an order paper of the house revealed that there are 56 bills aimed at creating federal medical centers in different parts of the country. The legislators are also exploring the possibility of establishing vocational and skill acquisition, cancer research, and entrepreneurship centers nationwide.
These initiatives highlight the dynamic nature of legislative activities taking place in Nigeria and the significant decisions that are being made to address the country’s developmental needs. As the national assembly deliberates on these proposals, it remains to be seen how the creation of new states, federal universities, and medical centers will impact the nation’s socio-economic landscape.
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