As Nigerians grapple with hunger, inflation, unemployment, and insecurity, the creation of 31 states in the country should be the last thing on the minds of lawmakers.

Development Diaries reports that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution recently said it had received proposals from individuals seeking the creation of 31 additional states.

If this proposal succeeds, Nigeria’s state count will jump from 36 to 67. More states mean more governors, commissioners, lawmakers, and an army of bureaucrats.

And come to think of it, all of them would be earning salaries from an economy already on life support.

One might ask: How does adding more states solve our real problems? Will it put food on the table, reduce the cost of living, or make the streets safer?

Nigerians are not demanding more politicians. They are demanding policies that improve their lives.

If the National Assembly is serious about constitutional reforms, it should start where it truly matters: cutting down the cost of governance.

And in this department of excess, the president’s ever-expanding cabinet deserves an honorable mention.

The 1999 Constitution mandates the president to appoint at least one minister from each state. That is 36 ministers at the minimum, even before considering special portfolios. Streamlining the cabinet would reduce administrative costs and free up resources for actual development.

Lawmakers should therefore focus on making governance leaner and more efficient. Fewer ministers, smaller government, and more funds directed to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Development Diaries calls on the House Committee to reject the proposals and instead work on reducing the financial strain of governance.

If they truly want to make history and earn the trust of Nigerians, especially everyday citizens, let it be for championing reforms that ease the suffering of Nigerians.