Bill for the creation of Adada State has passed first reading at the Senate.
The bill proposing the creation of Adada State, a new addition to the South-East geopolitical zone, successfully passed its first reading in the Senate on Tuesday. Officially referred to as the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (SB. 482),” this bill is spearheaded by Senator Okey Ezea, who represents the Enugu North Senatorial District.
Senator Ezea explained that the bill aims to amend Section 3(1) and the First Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This amendment would facilitate the establishment of a new state within the South-East region. The primary objective of this proposal is to increase the number of states in the region to six, thereby aligning it with the number of states in other geopolitical zones of the country.
The campaign for the creation of Adada State is not a recent development; it dates back to 1983. The late Senator Isaiah Ani, who represented the Nsukka senatorial zone during the Second Republic, was the first to introduce a bill advocating for this cause. His efforts laid the groundwork for the current legislative push.
The passage of the bill’s first reading marks a significant step forward in the long-standing quest for the creation of Adada State. The South-East region has long felt the need for an additional state to ensure equitable distribution of resources and political representation. Proponents of the bill argue that the creation of Adada State will address these disparities and foster greater development in the region.
The process of creating a new state in Nigeria is a complex and arduous one, involving several stages of legislative approval and constitutional amendments. The bill must pass through multiple readings and debates in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It will also require the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures and a national referendum. Despite these challenges, the proponents of Adada State remain optimistic and committed to seeing the bill through to fruition.
Supporters of the bill highlight several benefits of creating Adada State. Firstly, it would bring government closer to the people, enhancing administrative efficiency and responsiveness. The new state would also provide an opportunity for improved infrastructure development, better healthcare, and educational facilities, and more employment opportunities. Additionally, it would promote a sense of identity and belonging among the people of the proposed state, fostering unity and social cohesion.
The creation of Adada State would also have significant political implications. It would alter the political landscape of the South-East region, potentially redistributing political power and influence. This could lead to more balanced representation and a fairer allocation of resources among the states in the region. Moreover, it could serve as a catalyst for further political and economic development, attracting investment and stimulating growth.
However, the proposal is not without its critics. Some argue that the creation of new states could lead to increased administrative costs and bureaucratic inefficiencies. They caution against the potential for heightened ethnic and regional tensions, as well as the risk of creating unsustainable states that may struggle to generate sufficient revenue to support their development. Opponents also point out that the focus should be on improving governance and service delivery within the existing states rather than creating new ones.
Despite these concerns, the momentum behind the Adada State bill is growing. Senator Ezea and his supporters are working diligently to garner the necessary support from their colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives. They are also engaging with stakeholders at the state and local levels to build a broad coalition of support for the bill.
As the legislative process unfolds, the fate of the Adada State bill will become clearer. If successful, it could pave the way for other regions to seek the creation of additional states, further reshaping Nigeria’s political and administrative landscape. For now, the people of the South-East region watch with anticipation and hope, eager to see whether their long-held dream of Adada State will finally become a reality.
