I thank you for giving me the time to speak on the very important matter concerning the enactment of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority, Act 2026 for the constitution of the FNTA.
Speaker Sir, our Government has consistently striven to ensure equity and inclusiveness in development across all sections of our people and all regions of the State. However, as we are all aware, owing to various historical reasons and geographical challenges, the districts of the Eastern Nagaland Region have suffered significant developmental deficits. These areas have not been able to attain the same levels of progress as other parts of the State. Despite our continued initiatives and interventions, the enormity of the developmental gap, coupled with our limited resources, has meant that these regions continue to lag behind on several key indicators.
In order to fulfill their aspirations, the people of Eastern Nagaland have expressed their desire for an institutional arrangement in the form of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority. The State Government, fully appreciating and understanding these aspirations, extended its support and worked jointly with the Government of India in holding consultations and building consensus. This process culminated in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on 5th February, 2026, between the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland, and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for the establishment of the FNTA within the State of Nagaland.
The Frontier Nagaland Territory as everyone is aware will comprise six districts of Eastern Nagaland Region, namely Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator of the State of Nagaland.
Speaker Sir, the objective of constituting the FNTA is to establish a unique self-governing Territorial Authority that will enable the people of Eastern Nagaland to fulfill their social, economic, educational, cultural, and linguistic aspirations. It will also provide for democratic, decentralised self-governance at the regional level within the State of Nagaland.
Speaker Sir, with the constitution of FNTA, it is also envisaged for a comprehensive economic development of the Eastern Nagaland Region aligning its process with the rest of the State. The State Government will be allocating funds to FNTA based on its population and size, and also the Government of India, keeping in view, the under-development and lack of Infrastructure in Eastern Nagaland Region will be sanctioning requisite Funds under various schemes or programme of the Ministry as Special Development Grants for development of infrastructure within FNTA and for which, the FNTA will themselves identify such development projects in consultation with the State Government.
The FNTA will also prepare its own Annual Plan within the allocated funds for the departments and subjects under its control and will have its own planning/finance set-up to formulate development plans based on grassroots needs. The State Government on its part will ensure timely release of funds in accordance with laid-down norms of the State Government as well as the Central Government.
Speaker Sir, I would now like to briefly outline the process followed in preparing the Bill for the constitution of the FNTA. As per Clause 3.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement, the FNTA is to be constituted under a special legislation to be enacted by the State Government in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The concerned Departments of the State, following the signing of the MoA started preparing the Bill by incorporating the various provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on 05.02.2026 between the Govt. of India, Govt. of Nagaland, and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization, for the creation of FNT/FNTA.
The State Cabinet met on 26.02.2026 and deliberated on the draft Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill prepared by the Law and Justice Department. The Cabinet noted that the provisions of the MoA, inter alia, envisaged to give legislative powers to FNTA.
The views of the Learned Advocate General, who was present in the meeting, were also sought. The Learned Advocate General opined that, under the constitutional scheme, legislative powers cannot be conferred on the FNTA through a State legislation.
Upon further deliberation, the Cabinet observed that the State Government does not possess the legislative competence to delegate powers equivalent to its own or to transfer its legislative authority to another body/authority.
Accordingly, the Cabinet directed the Chief Secretary to bring the opinion of the Ld. Advocate General, and its observation, in respect to the legislative powers for FNTA, to the notice of MHA. A copy of the communication sent to MHA was also directed to be provided to the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO).
In compliance, the State Government addressed a communication to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 6th March, 2026, regarding the issue of legislative powers under Clause 3.3 of the MoA, with a copy to the ENPO.
On 10.03.2026, a communication was received from MHA wherein the State Government was requested to initiate action in terms of Clause no. 3.3 of MoA for constitution of FNT/FNTA under a State Legislation to be enacted by the State Government in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs as per the provisions of MoA, and to send the draft proposal in this regard to the MHA.
In the midst of all the above development, I also had discussion with the Union Home Secretary on 16.03.2026 wherein the MoA signed between the Govt. of Nagaland with Govt. of India and ENPO, was discussed, and the need for early constitution of FNTA was also stressed upon.
Subsequently the draft Bill prepared by the Law & Justice Department of the State was further examined, and after being vetted by the Ld. Advocate General of the State, a copy of the same was then sent to MHA on 17.03.2026 in terms of clause 3.3 of the MoA.
Meanwhile, the representatives of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) met me on 24.03.2026 and the matter regarding constitution of FNTA was discussed. A representation was also submitted wherein the ENPO on behalf of the 8(eight) Tribes of Eastern Nagaland, requesting that the FNTA Bill be passed before their forthcoming Central Executive Council meeting scheduled for 30th March, 2026.
In view of these developments, the Cabinet met again on 25th March, 2026 and further deliberated on the provisions of the draft Bill and taking into account the request of the ENPO and also the fact that the session of the NLA is concluding on 27.03.2026, decided to approve the draft Bill with further modifications as considered necessary, and for tabling in the ongoing Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Accordingly, the Bill for the constitution of the FNTA was tabled in this House yesterday, i.e. 26.03.2026.
However, yesterday evening, I was contacted by the Ministry of Home Affairs conveying that the matter regarding the conferral of legislative powers to the FNTA, which had earlier been raised by the State Government in its communication, is still under examination. The Ministry further informed that the opinion of the Learned Solicitor General of India is being sought on the issue. The State Government has accordingly been requested to allow some more time to the Ministry and to take up any further action with regard to the FNTA Bill only after receipt of their views and opinion.
Further, in the evening of 26th March, 2026, the ENPO has submitted an appeal requesting that the provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement signed on 5th February, 2026, be upheld while passing the FNTA Bill, 2026.
Again, yesterday evening, ENLU has submitted a letter to Minister, Parliamentary Affairs, wherein the ENPO letter dated 26th March, 2026 has been referred to, and it has requested to consider deferring the passage of the FNTA Bill until such time that all the concerns are adequately addressed and clarity is attained on the MoA
Speaker Sir, in view of the request made by the Government of India, which is a signatory to the Memorandum of Agreement, and the appeal of ENPO and the request made by ENLU, and keeping in mind the necessity of ensuring that the provisions of the MoA are addressed in a legally sound and constitutionally tenable manner, I propose that the consideration and passing of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill, 2026 be deferred, and that the Bill be referred back to the Government for further examination.
(DIPR)