The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said on Thursday only a constitutional amendment would give the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state the same status as the 20 old councils.
He stated this at the second public hearing of the bill on the Local Government Administration in Ikeja.
The legislation is titled: “A Bill for 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 local councils in the state, adding that the LCDAs would require constitutional recognition to operate as full-fledged councils.
He said: “It will be recalled that this House of Assembly in 2003 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.
READ ALSO: Lagos Assembly probes 57 local councils’ accounts
“The LCDAs will perform any duty assigned by a Law of the Lagos State House of Assembly; and executive directives from the state government.”
The speaker pointed out that the bill provided that local governments under which the different LCDAs fall shall appoint Mayors for development areas.
He, however, said such appointments would be subject to the confirmation of the Assembly.
Obasa said the bill also provided for the 20 LGAs to fund the LCDAs under them.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Mr. Okanlawon Sanni, said the objective of the bill was to provide the legal framework for the LGAs and LCDAs to provide effective service at the grassroots.
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