Kano Seeks New State, 26 More LGAs in Constitution Review

Kano State has submitted far-reaching constitutional proposals, including the demand for the creation of an additional state from its current boundaries and the establishment of 26 new local government areas.

Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo presented the proposals at the North West zonal public hearing of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee held in Kaduna on Saturday. He said Kano’s current structure was inadequate given its vast landmass and rapidly growing population.

“With Kano’s burgeoning population and vast landmass, carving out another state was long overdue,” Gwarzo said. “Increasing the number of local governments from 44 to 70 will help deepen grassroots development and participation.”

He emphasized that the demand reflects the real developmental needs of the people and the urgency to bring governance closer to underserved communities.

“Kano identifies with the yearnings of various communities for restructuring and therefore supports the creation of new states, provided such moves comply with Section 8 of the Constitution,” the deputy governor declared. “We also strongly advocate the creation of 26 additional local governments in Kano to meet the aspirations of our people.”

The state’s memorandum, endorsed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and developed through an extensive public consultation, represents a collective voice. A 22-member stakeholders’ committee was tasked with gathering public input via radio phone-in programmes and an open forum at the historic Mambayya House, the residence of late nationalist Malam Aminu Kano.

Beyond the demand for a new state and more LGAs, Kano called for the constitutional recognition of local governments as a distinct tier of government. It proposed amendments to Section 2(2), Section 7, and Section 162(5) of the Constitution to guarantee local government autonomy within a framework that ensures accountability and alignment with state development priorities.

“Kano notes the subtle exclusion of local governments in the existing federal structure. We advocate for reforms that grant them proper constitutional footing, with safeguards for accountability and strategic synergy with state objectives,” Gwarzo said.

On national security, Kano expressed strong support for the establishment of state police forces to help tackle rising insecurity, but called for clearly defined boundaries of authority and strong inter-agency collaboration to prevent jurisdictional conflicts.

“Kano believes that while state police will close glaring security gaps, there must be defined areas of operational competence between it and the national police,” the memorandum stated. The state urged the National Assembly to amend the Second Schedule, Part I, Item 45, and other related provisions to pave the way for this reform.

Kano also demanded a stronger constitutional role for traditional institutions. It called for legal provisions to protect the appointment processes of traditional rulers from political interference and to utilize their influence to enhance grassroots peace and cohesion. It proposed the establishment of a National Council of Traditional Rulers, composed of chairmen of state councils of chiefs, to advise the Federal Government on critical national matters.

In fiscal matters, the state made a bold proposal to revise the revenue allocation formula. It recommended that the Federal Government’s share be reduced from 52.68% to 40%, states’ share increased from 26.72% to 35%, and the allocation for local governments boosted from 20.6% to 25%.

Kano also voiced support for constitutional amendments aimed at promoting gender inclusion. It backed ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to ensure greater representation of women in legislative bodies at both national and state levels.

In his closing remarks, Gwarzo described the document as the product of an “inclusive and participatory” process that captures the collective aspirations of Kano people.

“We urge the National Assembly to give our modest proposals favourable consideration so Nigeria can move closer to a constitution that truly reflects the hopes of the people,” he appealed.

Also speaking at the hearing, Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Dahiru Liman, expressed support for the creation of a new state from the current Kaduna territory. According to him, this would help ensure greater fairness and equity in governance.