A bill aimed at establishing three additional states in the South-West region has been scheduled for presentation in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Oluwole Oke, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, the proposed legislation seeks the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa states.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”, the proposed law seeks to amend the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution to accommodate the new states while adjusting the number of local government areas accordingly.
In the draft bill, Oke-Ogun State, with Iseyin as its proposed capital city, would consist of 12 local government areas.
Ijebu State would be formed from eight existing LGAs, with Ijebu Ode designated as its capital. Ife-Ijesa State is proposed to be comprised of 11 LGAs, with its capital city yet to be determined.
In a letter dated February 6, 2024, addressed to the Clerk of the House, Oke formally submitted the bill for necessary legislative procedures.
If approved, the South-West region would surpass the North-West as the region with the highest number of states in Nigeria.
However, the bill must secure a two-thirds majority support in both chambers of the National Assembly and be ratified by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, as stipulated in Section 9 (1) of the Constitution.
The National Assembly is currently in the process of amending the constitution, with the Constitutional Review Committee set to be inaugurated on February 26, 2023, under the leadership of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.