NA To Commence Creation Of New States

ABUJA, June 04, (THEWILL) – The Senate has said there is no going back in its resolve to create more states in the country.

Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze stated this in Abuja on Friday.

Eze said with the conclusion of amendment of electoral provisions in the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly will on resumption later in the month kick start the constitutional process for creation of additional states.

Stating that all agitation for new states are genuine, Eze said the National Assembly will look at all of them dispassionately but added that only those that meet the laid down requirements would be considered.

He said the National Assembly will consider issues such as economic viability, human and natural resources and other factors that will guarantee sustainability of such states.

Stating that the National Assembly has not made up its mind on the states to be created out of the plethora of demands by stakeholders, Eze however said the legislature has been in touch with key stakeholders adding that it will engage in wider consultation on the matter when it resumes plenary.

Eze assured that the exercise will be given an accelerated consideration.

He said those agitating for states should reinforce their lobbying of federal and state lawmakers, as it will take the National Assembly and the State Assemblies to amend the section of the Constitution dealing with the listing of states in the federation.

The National Assembly on Thursday embarked on a two weeks recess to mark the end of the 2009/2010 legislative year.

It is expected to resume plenary on the 22nd on June 2010.