Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has renewed his call for a constitutional recognition of the 37 local council development councils as local government authorities.
Sanwo-Olu made the presentation in Lagos at the ongoing zonal public hearing on constitutional review, an exercise that goes on simultaneously in Enugu, Kano, Jos, Lagos, Ikot-Ekpene, and Maiduguri.
According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, by all standards, the creation of LCDAs in Lagos and other Southwest states should be given the needed recognition as local governments.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the calls for amendments and reviews to the constitution have remained persistent and vigorous.
He said in response to the demands of Nigerians, the National Assembly has enacted five sets of amendments to the constitution, known as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Alteration Acts.
These amendments, he added, tackle various issues related to good governance, institutional strengthening, and national aspirations.
Regrettably, Sanwo-Olu said several fundamental issues of national importance remain unresolved, requiring more than just routine lawmaking by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
He said that the LCDAs created by Lagos under the Bola Tinubu administration as governor, are overdue to be recognised as full-fledged local government areas.
Sanwo-Olu added that Lagos, by population and revenue, merits more than 20 local governments areas listed.
“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, who noted that though some states in the zone had backed down, Lagos will continue to pursue its demand to recognise the local council development authorities.