By Felix Kuyinu
The Lagos State Council Chairmen have opposed the proposed Local Government Administration Bill set up by the Lagos State House of Assembly to replace the state’s Local Council Development Areas, LCDA’s, with Area Administrative Councils.
During a public hearing organized by the legislative arm, the Council Chairmen, under the aegis of Conference 57, urged the lawmakers to reconsider the proposed bill and ensure that the LCDA’S are not jettisoned in affairs of the state.
The group’s General Secretary, Rasaq Ajala, said that the Assembly should channel all energy and resources into ensuring that the 37 LCDAs were listed in the constitution.
Ajala, who is the Executive Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, noted that the grassroots development the people of the state benefit from is as a result of the creation of additional 37 LCDAs.
He said: “The position of the Conference 57 on the issue is very clear. The creation of the 37 LCDAs is a product of the Constitution and to that extent, the Assembly should allow it to stay.
“You will recall that when this Local Council Development Areas were created by President Bola Tinubu, the state was taken to court and we dragged the matter up to the Supreme Court.
“The pronouncement of the Supreme Court then was very clear. They have given validity. They believe that the process we took was legal.
“So to that extent, we believe that we have not done anything that is unconstitutional by creating the 37 LCDAs.
“We have not done anything that is illegal and this is a system that has been working for years.”
