The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has extended the deadline for the submission of a revised memorandum on state and local creation by interested Nigerians.

Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said in a statement on Monday that the new deadline for submission is now March 26, 2025.

Kalu said the extension is in response to public requests for additional time, adding that the Committee remains committed to supporting legitimate efforts that align with the constitutional provisions.

The Committee also reminded proponents of state and local government creation that all submissions must strictly comply with the provisions of Section 8(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

Section 8(1) requires that a request, supported by at least a two-thirds majority of members representing the area demanding the creation of the new state, must be received by the National Assembly in each of the following: the Senate and the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly of the affected area, and the Local Government Councils of the affected area.

He said that in accordance with Section 8(3), the outcomes of votes by the State Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

The statement also directed further enquiries to the Clerk of the Committee, Wali Shehu, stressing that it will only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines. (The Nation)