The bill seeking the establishment of the new Etiti State from the five South States scaled through Second Reading on the floor of the House of Representatives, on Thursday.
The proposed Etiti State when created would encompass 11 existing local government areas from the region.
The Bill seeks to amend Section 3(1) to increase the number of States from 36 to 37 by inserting ‘Etiti’ immediately after ‘Enugu’.
The bill is also seeking consequential alterations in the First Schedule, Part I, which includes — Carving out Isuikwuato and Umunneochi LGAs from Abia; Orumba North and Orumba South LGAs from Anambra; Ivo and Ohaozara LGAs from Ebonyi; Aninri, Awgu and Oji River LGAs from Enugu; and Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs from Imo States to form the new Etiti State; and designation of Lokpanta as the capital city of Etiti State.
In his lead debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, Hon. Amobi Ogah, emphasized that the creation of the state would bring the southeast in line with the other zones of the country.
Hon. Ogah pointed out that while other regions in the country have six states, with the North West having seven, the South East remains the only zone with five states.
He said: “It is not news that the current structure of the Southeast region with just five states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—as against other regions of the country which have no fewer than six States, has been a subject of debate and advocacy for reconfiguration.
“The creation of Etiti State is a proactive step towards aligning the region with the structural realities of its other 5 sister regions in the country. Suffice it to say that is a long overdue step in the right direction to foster equitable representation, enhance governance efficiency, and promote socio-economic development within the region.
“Let us bear in mind that the Southeast, with its rich cultural heritage and strategic economic potential, deserves a governance framework that optimally serves its diverse communities.
“The creation of Etiti State will facilitate more targeted development initiatives, better resource allocation, and improved service delivery to the people.”
He explained that the proposed Bill seeks to address a longstanding issue of regional parity and administrative efficiency within the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
Hence, he harped on the need for the alteration of the 199) Constitution with a view to accommodate the creation of Etiti State, thereby increasing the number of states in the South-East geopolitical zone to six.
He said: “The establishment of Etiti State is not just a matter of administrative convenience but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.
“It responds to the aspirations of the people of a very important region in this country and aligns with the principles of equity and inclusivity enshrined in our democratic ideals.
He stressed that the creation of Etiti State represents a unique opportunity to strengthen our federal structure, empower our communities, and foster national unity.
The bill was referred to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative action.
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