By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Admist growing speculations of alleged planned coup plot to topple the Tinubu-led Federal Government, Bauchi state on the other hand is charting the course for entrenching democratic governance with a memo to the National Assembly seeking for the creation of 29 additional Local Government Areas in the state for governance conveniences.
A memo to that effect by the Bauchi state Legislature, signed the House Acting Deputy Clerk, Musa Yerima, was Wednesday despatched to the National Assembly through the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review being chaired by the Senate Deputy President, Senator Barau Jibrin.
With the realization to this advocacy by the Bauchi Legislature, an exercise that requires Constitutional amendment to provide room for the creation of the desired twenty-nine (29) additional Local Government Areas, the state could boost of 49 such administrative councils with the already existing twenty (20) for effective rule.
The request to the National Assembly dated 29th October, 2025, the memo reads in part, “I am pleased to inform you that the Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill to provide for the creation of new additional Local Government Areas in Bauchi state, 2025”.
“The new additional Local Government Areas listed in Schedule 11 to this law attached are inchoate until such a time as the National Assembly shall pass an act to make consequential provisions with respect to the names of the said additional Local Government Areas as provided for under Section 8 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The Bauchi Legislative memo to the National Assembly titled, “Forwarding of Law” with reference No. BASHA/FIN/S/5/T stated that, “The said law is hereby forwarded to the Chairman, Joint Committee on Constitution Review Committee, National Assembly, for further necessary action”.
The Deputy Legislative Clerk gave the proposed additional Local Government Areas for creation in Bauchi state as Balma with its headquarters at Nasaru, Bauchi East with headquarters at Women Centre, Bauchi West with headquarters at Miri, Beshongo with headquarters at Beni, Bula LGA with headquarters at Bununu, Burra with headquarters at Burra, and Chinade with headquarters at Chinade.
Others to be created are Dagauda/Jalam with headquarters at Dagauda, Disina with headquarters at Disina, Dogon Jeji/Jurara with headquarters at Dogon Jeji, Dass West with headquarters at Lukshi, Gadau with its headquarters at Gadau, Galambi with headquarters at Kangere, and Ganjuwa East with headquarters at Soro, and Girawa with headquarters at Faggo, Gololo with headquarters at Gololo, and Gwana with headquarters at Futuk.
Also included in the creation were Isawa with headquarters at Isawa, Jama’a with headquarters at Nabordo, Karkara with headquarters at Akuyam, Lame with headquarters at Lame, Lere with headquarters at Lere, Madara with headquarters at Madara, Sade with headquarters at Sade, Sakuwa with headquarters at Sakuwa, Saye with headquarters at Hardawa, Udubo with headquarters at Udubo, Yankari with headquarters at Yelwan Duguri, and Zungur with headquarters at Liman Katagum.
The demand for the creation of new additional Local Government Areas in Bauchi state is coming on wheels of a recent creation of 13 additional emirates and a chiefdom, thus bringing the number of such traditional institutions to twenty (20) coupled with the existing six of Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Jama’are, Ningi and Dass.
The newly created Emirates and a chiefdom to which law passed by the State House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed are Dambam, Darazo, Duguri, Giade, Gamawa, Toro, Burra, Lame, Lere, Warji, Jama’a, Bununu, Ari, and Zaar Chiefdom whose occupancies have already been inaugurated into their respective palaces by the state government.
Meanwhile, a political party, the African Action Congress (AAC) has challenged the rationale behind the recent creation of 13 new emirates and a chiefdom by the Bauchi state government, saying the action was borne out of self-aggrandizement to siphon public funds.
To this end, AAC queried the motive behind the allocation of a reportedly whooping sum of ₦70 billion for the maintenance of the new emirates and a chiefdom, despite what the party noted, as the state’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions.
The AAC in a press statement in Bauchi Thursday recalled the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indices which indicates that over 73.9% of Bauchi residents live in multidimensional poverty, while unemployment and underemployment rates continue to soar in the populace.
The statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Amb. U. Y Abubakar said that presently the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), stands at only ₦2,310 per capita, which is far below the national average, reflecting a fragile and unproductive economy, with critical public sectors remaining in disarray.
Amb. U. Y Abubakar also observed that the state recent budget performance reports show less than 1% capital implementation in major health and education agencies for the first half of 2025, while retirees are owed over ₦42 billion in unpaid pensions and gratuities.
The Bauchi AAC Chairman said, “Health facilities are underfunded, teachers remain unpaid, and youth unemployment continues to drive insecurity and social unrest”, as he
condemned the diversion of scarce public resources toward prestige-driven administrative expansion instead of addressing urgent human development challenges.
Abubakar called for the immediate suspension and independent review of the ₦70 billion emirates allocation pending a full fiscal audit and public justification, and reallocation of funds to clear pension arrears, gratuities, strengthen healthcare delivery, education, and youth employment initiatives.
The party chairman advocated for enhanced transparency in budget implementation, with quarterly publication of capital expenditure performance in key social sectors, as well as public consultation before any further creation or funding of traditional institutions, ensuring governance truly serves the people, not the elites.
“The African Action Congress (AAC) Bauchi State Chapter reaffirms its unwavering commitment to people-centred governance anchored on transparency, accountability, and social justice. Bauchi State must prioritize hospitals over palaces, schools over symbols, and citizens’ welfare over political appeasement”
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