Why I moved for creation of additional state constituencies – Plateau lawmaker

Mr Nanbol Daniel (LP-Langtang North Central), Member, Plateau State House of Assembly, has explained why he moved the motion for creation of additional state constituencies in the assembly.

Daniel told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos, that the people of the state would have better representation if more constituencies were created out of the current 24.

The lawmaker said that the creation would further help in meeting the current legislative demands of Plateau.

He said the constituencies should be reviewed from 24 to 40 members, to reflect equity in the number of federal constituencies in Plateau.

Daniel stated that since the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had not reviewed the number of constituencies in the state.

According to him, it is a constitutional duty of INEC to do a periodic review of constituencies, noting that Plateau has been long overdue in view of its growing population.

The lawmaker stated that Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provided that a State House of Assembly shall consist of three or four times the number of seats that it has in the House of Representatives.

“It is provided that a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of not less than 24 and not more than 40 members.

“Section 112 of the Nigerian Constitution also provides that the INEC shall divide every state of the federation into such number of state constituencies as is equal to three or four times the number of federal constituencies within that state.

“More so, Section 114 provides that INEC shall review the division of every state into constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years.

“And may alter such constituencies in accordance with the provisions of Section 114 to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the review,” he explained.

Daniel therefore, urged the state’s lawmakers, National Assembly members, and Plateau Government, to start and sustain the processes for the upward review and creation of additional state constituencies. (NAN)