Ogun lawmakers to pass bill on new 37 LCDAs

The Ogun State House of Assembly has promised to pass expeditiously the bill for the creation of 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

Mr Akinpelu Aina, a member of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

The bill, now in its final stage, would be deliberated on thoroughly by the committee of the whole House after which it would be passed into law, he said.

“The Bill for a law to amend the Local Government Law of Ogun State, 2002, has already passed the second reading on the floor of the House.

“We have also held a three-day public hearing on the bill by bringing together stakeholders.

“I want to assure the citizens and all the stakeholders that contributed during the public hearing that all their yearnings and contributions would be put into consideration before the passage of the bill,” the lawmaker said.

Aina explained that the creation of the development councils was to bring government closer to the people and to foster cordial relationship among the people.

According to him, one of the merits of the bill is to ensure greater representation of the people in governance as well as open avenues for better understanding of the peculiarities of each locality.

The lawmaker explained that the bill was a step to complement the existing 20 local government areas in the state for dividends of democracy.

NAN reports that Gov. Ibikunle Amosun had on March 10 sent an executive bill to the House seeking to restructure the existing 20 councils and create additional 37 LCDAs.

The bill is in fulfillment of his electoral promise to the people.