KEY POINTS

• Lagos Assembly says 37 LCDAs need constitutional recognition.
• Bill allows mayors to be appointed for LCDAs, with local governments funding them.
• Stakeholders urge more autonomy for LCDAs to improve service delivery.

In accordance with the Lagos State House of Assembly, a constitutional modification would be necessary in order for the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to achieve the same status as the 20 current local government councils.

At the second public hearing on the Local Government Administration Bill, which was conducted in Ikeja, Speaker of the House Mudashiru Obasa made this declaration.

Obasa underlined that although the Lagos Assembly passed legislation in 2003 creating the 37 LCDAs, the Nigerian constitution only acknowledges the state’s initial 20 local government areas (LGAs).

The constitution must be changed to allow for the LCDAs’ recognition in order for them to operate as complete local councils.

Legislative provisions for local governance

“A Law to Provide for Local Governments’ System, Establishment and Administration,” the measure under consideration, aims to unify all Lagos local government administration laws.

It contains clauses designed to close the disparity between the recognized local governments and the LCDAs. Obasa claims that the bill would enable the LCDAs to carry out tasks that have been delegated to them by state laws or orders from the Lagos State administration.

The measure also states that mayors will be chosen to manage the LCDAs’ development regions; however, the Assembly must confirm these selections.

Additionally, it requires the 20 local government councils to provide funding to the LCDAs that fall under their purview, guaranteeing that they have the means to function efficiently. This is consistent with a recent Supreme Court ruling.

This aligns with a recent Supreme Court ruling granting autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils.

Stakeholders and local governance challenges

The House Committee on Local Government’s Chairman, Okanlawon Sanni, reaffirmed during the public hearing that the bill’s objective is to establish a solid legal basis for effective and efficient service delivery at the local level.

According to Vanguard, he pointed out that the bill aspires to make Lagos State the leader in local governance reforms by combining earlier modifications pertaining to local government administration.

Before the measure is finished and put forth for passage, Sanni promised that all recommendations and comments from the stakeholders in attendance at the hearing would be thoroughly examined and taken into account.

Stakeholders expressed their concerns about the limited capacity of the LCDAs due to their lack of full recognition, urging the Assembly to push for more autonomy and adequate funding to meet the needs of residents at the local level.

Future prospects for the LCDAs

The bill suggests operational changes that will increase the LCDAs’ efficacy in spite of their present shortcomings.

The LCDAs will be more capable of meeting the requirements of their communities if the 20 recognized local governments are given the authority to designate mayors and supply funds for the development zones.

But in the end, a constitutional modification will be necessary to grant these LCDAs complete autonomy and legitimacy.

The proposed law is anticipated to give the connection between the 20 local governments and the 37 LCDAs much-needed clarity and structure as Lagos State continues its attempts to improve local governance.

The LCDAs will continue to rely on the original municipal governments for financial and legislative support until constitutional amendments are implemented.