Key Points

• The Nigerian House of Representatives advanced a legislative measure which converts Lagos LCDAs into complete Local Government Areas.
• The bill aims to raise the total number of Local Government Areas in Nigeria from 774 to 811 by increasing Lagos LGAs to 57.
• A Reps bill proposes to amend the constitution to establish legal jurisdiction for the existing 37 Local Council Development Areas.

A House of Representatives bill successfully made its second reading to provide official status for all 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State as Local Government Areas.

Proposed change would increase LGAs in Lagos to 57

The successful passage of the bill would further elevate Lagos to 57 Local Government Areas and raise the total number across Nigeria to 811.

The bill sponsor Abiodun Faleke from Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos State worked alongside 21 co-sponsoring lawmakers to introduce this bill.

Furthermore under the bill a modification seeks to extend Nigerian Constitution provisions for 37 LCDAs in Lagos State to receive full status as LGAs.

Key provisions in the Reps bill

The bill’s Clause 3 modifies the First Schedule – Section 3, Part 1, Item 24 (Lagos State Local Government Areas) in its current state which names Ikeja with Agege and Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Alimosho together with other major districts of Lagos.

Clause 4 outlines a plan to extend the list with Agbado, Oke-Odo, Ayobo-Ipaja, and additional areas throughout Lagos State which would rise the total number of recognized LGAs to 57.

According to the explanatory documentation presented by the bill’s originators, this explains the changes are meant to transform the 37 LCDAs into completely recognized Local Government Areas per the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.