A sociocultural pressure group in the Niger Delta region, under the aegis of the Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), has dragged the Federal Government and the National Assembly before a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, demanding the creation of an additional 24 local government areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa, which currently has only eight.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The Secretary-General of the group and pioneer President of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Felix Tuodolo, is also urging the court to mandate legislation that would empower each state of the federation to control its resources and remit taxes to the central government—an arrangement he described as the hallmark of true federalism.
Tuodolo, while speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, said the Supreme Egbesu Assembly has long championed the struggle for state creation and resource control. He noted that the group opted for legal action to press home its demands, warning that failure to address the issues could spell economic doom for the nation.
The plaintiffs, in suit number FHC/YNG/CS/64/2026, through their lead counsel, Barrister Ebibenabo Okorodas, recalled that between 1999 and 2000, the Bayelsa State Government, through the State House of Assembly, created an additional 24 LGAs—a law he said has remained with the National Assembly to date.
Okorodas stated that his clients had formally written to the National Assembly, urging it to consider the creation of the additional LGAs to complement the existing eight, describing the current number as an injustice and an aberration for a state that contributes significantly to the nation’s economy.
He is asking the court to invoke Sections 6, 7, and 8 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outline the procedures for the creation of local government areas. He noted that one of the key requirements is that the State House of Assembly must deliberate on and approve the creation of new LGAs—a condition he said Bayelsa State has already fulfilled.
“Once that is done, the State Assembly is expected to transmit the resolution to the National Assembly for consideration, and Bayelsa State has since met that condition,” he said.
Speaking further, Okorodas said, “We have written to the National Assembly. We expect them to honour our request and deliberate on it, but they have failed to do so.
“So we are asking the court to mandate the National Assembly to deliberate on what the Bayelsa State Government has done and approve the creation of additional local government areas.
“Bayelsa has only eight local governments, which is the smallest in the federation, yet it remains a major contributor to the country’s economic sustenance.”
He added that the plaintiffs are also asking the court to compel the National Assembly to create the additional 24 LGAs for the state.
On resource control, Okorodas argued that true federalism requires that each state controls its resources and contributes an agreed percentage to the federal government.
“You cannot control my resources and then allocate to me what you deem fit. That negates the principles and practice of true federalism,” he said.
He further disclosed that the suit also seeks to challenge and expunge Section 164 of the Nigerian Constitution, which he argued grants excessive powers to the central government, thereby limiting resource control by federating units.
Okorodas confirmed that an originating summons has been filed against the defendants, namely the National Assembly, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Government.
Kindly share
