The House of Representatives has passed a landmark bill seeking to upgrade the 37 Development Area Councils (LCDAs) in Lagos State into fully recognised Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The proposed legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to Accommodate the Thirty-Seven (37) Development Area Councils of Lagos State as Full-Fledged Local Government Areas, was among 42 constitution amendment bills approved by the Green Chamber during Wednesday’s plenary session.
If signed into law, the bill will increase the number of LGAs in Lagos from 20 to 57 and raise the total LGAs in Nigeria from 774 to 811.
The bill, co-sponsored by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency), Hon. Babajimi Benson (Ikorodu Federal Constituency), Hon. Enitan Dolapo Badru (Lagos Island I Federal Constituency), and 19 other lawmakers, scaled its second reading in a plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
With the development, Lagos would officially become the state with the highest number of LGAs in the country, surpassing Kano (44 LGAs) and Katsina (34 LGAs).
The legislation is expected to further strengthen grassroots governance, improve administrative reach, and enhance the delivery of democratic dividends to the growing population of Lagos State.
A nice legislation, it is long over due kudos to the initiators