Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday endorsed the bill passed by the state’s House of Assembly on the creation of new 19 Local Government Council Areas in the State.
The new LGCAs, which will still be referred to as Local Council Development Areas pending final approval by the National Assembly were created from 12 of the exist
ing 16 Local Government Areas, excluding Ise-Orun, Emure, Ilejemeje and Efon.
The number increased by one from the proposed 18 councils after the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission submitted the results of referendum to the Assembly.
Justifying the increase, a member representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 11, Ayodeji Odu, said the Assembly considered a petition submitted by the people of Kajola/Oreniwa in Ikole local government area.
Fayemi, while signing the bill, reiterated that the policy was meant to bring governance closer to the people and not a trap for the incoming administration of Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said he initiated the policy as part of fulfillment of his electioneering promises to the people .
He promised that his government would bridge all noticeable gaps in the policy for quick take off of the policy before the expiration of his tenure on October 15.
Fayemi disclosed that the Assets’ Sharing Committee of the Assembly had visited the affected Local Governments and the reports were already before him for consideration and implementation.
Fayemi said, “This is a promised fulfilled following the yearnings of the people. These yearnings predated my coming into government in 2010.
“The fist executive Governor of this State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, attempted this policy before the end of his tenure but never came to pass. Despite this, our people never stopped requesting for additional Local Governments for rapid development and for political independence.
“With this policy, we are not just making history but we are part of history. We have written our names in the book of history for taking this bold step. And I will do everything within the confine of the constitution for effective functioning of these Councils before this administration effectively come to an end.
“Soon, we will appoint transitional political functionaries that would begin the process of the existence of these councils for rapid development at the grassroots where the bulk of our people live.”
Fayemi added that all extant constitutional provisions were complied with in creating the new councils.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin, said the legislators decided to support the policy because of the enormous role the local government system played in the lives of the rural dwellers and overall development of any society.
“We have seen what the effects have yielded in Lagos Sate. We have decided to take this bold step some states had failed to implement because we knew Local Government forms a critical segment of our development strategy. We need to tap into our rural areas for revenue drive for development at that level,” Omirin said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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