Provinces, Districts, Wards and Provincial Administration

The President may, subject to the approval of the National Assembly, create or divide a Province or merge two or more Provinces, as prescribed.

A Province shall consist of such number of districts, as prescribed.

A district shall consist of such number of wards, as prescribed.

A Province, district and ward shall be delimited, as prescribed.

Without prejudice to clause (1), sixty percent or more of the registered voters in a Province may petition the President to’ (a) merge a Province with another Province; or (b) divide a Province into two or more Provinces.

Where the President receives a petition under clause (5), and after due inquiry, the President may, by statutory order, declare the merger of the Province with another Province or the division of the Province into two or more Provinces, subject to ratification by the National Assembly.

Where the National Assembly ratifies the establishment of a new Province under this Article, the Electoral Commission shall delineate the electoral boundaries of the Province created. [clause (7) amended by section 12 of Act 13 of 2025] Provincial administration

There shall be established for each Province an administrative secretariat, which shall consist of’ (a) a Provincial Minister; (b) a provincial Permanent Secretary; and (c) other staff, as prescribed.

The provincial secretariat shall have overall responsibility of the Province and perform other functions as prescribed. [Part X, previously Part IX amended by Act No. 18 of 1996; renumbered and substituted by section 8 of Act 2 of 2016]