The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday said it would require a constitutional amendment for the 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state to have the same status as the 20 old councils.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said this at the second public hearing on the Local Government Administration Bill in Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bill is titled ‘A Law to Provide for Local Governments’ System, Establishment and Administration and to consolidate all Laws on Local Government Administration and for connected purposes.’
Obasa said the constitution only recognises 20 councils in the state and that LCDAs would require constitutional recognition to operate as full-fledged councils.
“It will be recalled that this House of Assembly in 2003 had enacted a Law establishing 37 LCDAs.
“However, until there is a 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,” he said.
Speaking on the provisions of the proposed law, Obasa said the bill provided that local governments under which the different LCDAs fall shall appoint Mayors for development areas.
He, however, said such appointments shall be subject to the confirmation of the Assembly
The Speaker said the bill also provided for the 20 LGs to fund the LCDAs under them.
Obasa added that this conformed with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court granting autonomy to the 774 Local Government councils, which the House was obligated to abide by.
The Speaker noted the sub-clause (3) of the same clause 3, provided that the 20 local government areas would have designated LCDAS and their corresponding headquarters as listed in the first schedule to the bill.
According to him, this is for the purpose of an efficient and effective local government administration in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government, Okanlawon Sanni, said the objective of the bill was to provide the legal framework to ensure LGAs and LCDAs provide effective service delivery at the grassroots level.
Sanni said the bill also sought to ensure that all amendments in respect of local government administration were well captured and incorporated to become law for optimal administration of the local governments of the state.
He said all suggestions, and opinions by various stakeholders at the public hearing would be considered on merit by the committee as part of its recommendations to the House for passage of the bill. (NAN)
