Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, says only a constitutional amendment can grant the 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) the same status as LGAs.
The LCDAs were created by President Bola Tinubu in 2003 when
he was governor of Lagos state.
Last week, the Lagos house of assembly moved to replace the
LCDAs with newly designated administrative areas.
The bill is titled “bill for a law to provide for the local
governments’ system, establishment, and administration, and to consolidate all
laws on local government administration.”
The bill, which outlines the structure of local governance,
states that Lagos will operate through democratically elected LGs.
According to the bill, Lagos will recognise 20 LGAs as
outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
NAN reports that Obasa spoke on Thursday during the second
public hearing on the proposed LG administration bill.
“It will be recalled
that this House of Assembly in 2003 had enacted a law establishing 37 LCDAs,”
Obasa said.
“However, until there is consequential constitutional amendment
that will recognise the LCDAs as full-fledged local government, they will
continue to be known as LCDAs.
“The LCDAs will perform any duty assigned by a law of the
Lagos state house of assembly; and executive directives from the state
government.”
Speaking on the proposed law, Obasa noted that the LGs
oversee LCDAs and will appoint mayors for development areas.
The speaker said the bill provides for 20 LGs to fund LCDAs
under them, and such appointments are subject to confirmation by the assembly.
He added that the bill aligns with the supreme court’s
judgment granting autonomy to the 774 LG councils, which the house must comply
with.
The speaker noted that sub-clause 3 of clause 3 provides for
20 LGAs to have designated LCDAs and headquarters, adding that it would ensure
efficient and effective local government administration.
On his part, Okanlawon Sanni, chairman of the house
committee on LG, said the bill provides a legal framework for effective
grassroots service delivery, adding that it captures amendments for optimal
local government administration.
Sanni added that the committee will consider all
stakeholders’ suggestions and opinions from the public hearing on merit for the
bill’s passage.
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