The House of Representatives has moved forward with a bill proposing the recognition of Lagos State’s 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The bill, which recently passed its second reading, aims to increase the number of LGAs in Lagos to 57 and the total nationwide to 811.
Sponsored by Ikeja Federal Constituency representative Abiodun Faleke and 21 others, the bill seeks to amend the Nigerian Constitution to officially integrate the 37 LCDAs into the governance structure. According to the proposal, Clause 3 of the bill will modify the First Schedule – Section 3, Part 1, Item 24, listing Lagos State’s local governments as:
“State – Lagos Capital City – Ikeja, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagary, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ajaye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Surulere.”
Clause 4 proposes further amendments to accommodate the additional councils, expanding the list of recognized LGAs. If the bill becomes law, it will provide constitutional backing for the LCDAs to function as full local governments, a move that could reshape governance in Lagos State.
As outlined in the bill’s explanatory memorandum, it seeks “to convert the 37 Development Area Councils of Lagos State to operate as full-fledged Local Government Areas captured in the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999.”
