By By Muminat Ajide
The Lagos State government is set to reform its local government system by replacing the existing 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with Area Administrative Councils.
This initiative is part of a newly proposed legislative bill that is currently under public scrutiny.
Recall that the LCDAs were created in the year 2003, during the administration of the current President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos, a position he held from 1999 to 2007.
According to the proposed legislation, each of Lagos State’s 20 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs) will supervise the newly introduced Area Administrative Councils.
These councils are intended to take over the administrative functions currently handled by the LCDAs, aiming to streamline governance and improve service delivery.
A key aspect of the bill is the uncertainty regarding the electoral process for these councils. Unlike the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which are run by elected officials, the bill does not clearly specify whether the Area Administrative Councils will be elected or appointed.
This lack of clarity has raised concerns among stakeholders regarding the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the proposed administrative bodies.
The bill highlights the state government’s dedication to decentralized governance, empowering each Local Government Area (LGA) to delegate specific responsibilities to the Area Administrative Councils within its boundaries. These councils will be headed by Area Administrative Secretaries, who will be appointed by the Governor and must be confirmed by the State House of Assembly.
