THE Lagos State government has concluded arrangements to tinker with the administrative structure at the grassroots level, particularly in view of the recent Supreme Court judgment, which mandates funds standing to the credit of the third tier of government be paid directly to them.
It has been gathered that the state government has decided to halt elections in the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created in 2003 during the administration of the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This indication was given by the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, on behalf of Speaker Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, during an ongoing stakeholders’ meeting.
The change is part of a new bill titled, “A Bill for a Law to Provide for Local Governments System, Establishment and Administration”, which is aimed at consolidating all laws on local government administration and connected purposes.
The bill proposes the creation of 37 Area Administrative Councils, alongside the 20 constitutionally recognized local governments. These councils will be headed by Area Administrative Secretaries appointed by the governor with the approval of the House of Assembly.
Each Area Administrative Council shall now be funded by the Local Government Area under which it falls.
The bill specifies that the system of local governments will be controlled by democratic elections.
According to the Bill, there shall be 20 Local Government Areas in the state as specified in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
The bill is coming on the heels of the financial autonomy recently granted to the 774 local governments in the country by the Supreme Court, which specified that money would not be released to any local government which has no democratically elected executive members.
“As from the commencement of this Law, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission shall conduct elections into the 20 Local Government Councils in the state as recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“The 20 local government councils shall have designated Area Administrative Offices as listed in the 1st Schedule to this Law for effective and efficient local government administration in the state.
“There shall be 37 Area Administrative Councils in the state with the names specified in Schedule 11 of the Creation of Local Government Areas (Amendment) Law of 2004,” the Bill stated.
It was added that each Local Government’s Administrative Council shall be headed by an Area Administrative Secretary, who shall be appointed by the governor subject to the confirmation of the House.
The bill states that each local government area has the power to delegate any of its functions to the Area Administrative Council falling within the territory of the LGA.
“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law, each Area Administrative Council will retain all the rights, interests, obligations and liabilities, which became vested in or attached to it under any contract or instrument, or on law or equity, at the time it was operating as a Local Government Area.
“Subject to the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission Act, the State Electoral Commission (LASIEC) shall divide each local government area into such number of wards, not being less than 12 or more than 40 as the circumstances of each local government Area may require,” the bill read.
The proposed law, in Section 30, also stated that the Governor shall have the right to suspend any Chairman or Vice Chairman or any elected official/political appointee, which it said shall at the expiration of such suspension, resume office and shall notify the House upon resumption of office.
The Deputy Speaker emphasized that this initiative aims to bring governance closer to the people, especially in remote areas, and foster local infrastructure development across the state.
Hon Meranda said: “We are gathered here to consider and reflect on a bill that seeks to further enhance how our third tier of government should be administered.”
“Two weeks ago, people were also gathered to deliberate on an electoral bill for the local government elections before the House would go into how the local government should function.
“This bill has passed the preliminary stages, and the House is hereby subjecting it to public appraisal in our transparent convention.
“At this stage, we subject the bill to public assessment, gathering public observations and thoughts to reflect on them in the next stage of the bill.
“The bill seeks to consolidate all laws on local government administration. The law, when passed, will allow the local government to function optimally with strict adherence to the rule of law and separation of powers within the Local Government.
“The bill clearly states the functions of the Chairman, Vice chairman, Legislative council and other local government functionaries.
“The bill also emphasizes the creation of thirty-seven Area administrative councils, in addition to the original twenty Local Governments listed in the bill. The councils would be headed by Area administrative secretaries to be appointed subject to the approval of the House,” he said
Stakeholders at the event include His Royal Majesty, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi; the Chairman of Odi Olowo-Ojuwoye LCDA, Rasak Ajala, a former commissioner in the state, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Eighteen-Eleven Media