- Sanwo-Olu Renews Call for Upgrading LCDAs to LGAs
- Sanwo-Olu expressed concern that several key national matters remain unresolved
- Lagos deserves more than the 20 local government areas currently listed in the constitution.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his call for constitutional recognition of the 37 local council development authorities (LCDAs) as official local government areas.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Sanwo-Olu made this appeal during the ongoing zonal public hearing on constitutional review held in Lagos. The hearings are also taking place simultaneously in Enugu, Kano, Jos, Ikot Ekpene, and Maiduguri.
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Represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the governor argued that the establishment of LCDAs in Lagos and other southwestern states meets all necessary standards and should be formally recognized as local governments.
He pointed out that calls for constitutional amendments have remained consistent and intense over the years.
In response to public demands, the National Assembly has passed five rounds of constitutional amendments, referred to as the 1st through 5th Alteration Acts, addressing issues such as governance, institutional development, and national goals.
However, Sanwo-Olu expressed concern that several key national matters remain unresolved, and addressing them requires more than routine legislative processes by the National Assembly and state legislatures.
He emphasized that the LCDAs established in Lagos during the tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the state governor, are long overdue for recognition as full local governments.
The governor also stated that given Lagos State’s population size and revenue capacity, it deserves more than the 20 local government areas currently listed in the constitution.
“A population of a local government in Lagos is almost at par with some states in the federation, yet we have just 20 local governments.
“We followed all the processes in creating the 37 LCDAs, and they have been very helpful to our people, the state and the country.
“These LCDAs have been given birth and have tremendously helped in governance; we cannot afford to make them die.
“All we’re asking from the National Assembly is to list all the LCDAs.
“Jigawa State, with 27 local governments, was created from Kano State, which has 44 local governments.
“Our councils are viable and control a huge population, and we would be glad to see the National Assembly grant our proposal.”
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that although some states in the region have stepped back from the demand, Lagos remains committed to pushing for the official recognition of its local council development authorities.
