……Only Recognized LGAs to Hold Elections in 2025, Says Lagos House of Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly has announced that there will be no elections in 2025 for the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, a decision aligned with recent judicial and legislative developments.

In a statement made yesterday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Okanlawon Sanni, Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, explained that only the 20 constitutionally recognized local governments will conduct elections next year. Sanni, representing Kosofe Constituency II, clarified that the LCDAs would require constitutional amendment by the National Assembly to gain official listing, following a Supreme Court ruling affirming the autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) will therefore oversee elections solely for the recognized local governments. Mr. Sanni underscored the Assembly’s commitment to maintaining salaries, allowances, and essential funding for local government employees and services, which remain a top budgetary priority.

As part of its response to the Supreme Court ruling, the Lagos Assembly is also repealing the Local Government Law 2016. This repeal aims to support the Court’s emphasis on financial independence for the state’s 20 local governments, and the Assembly is presently deliberating a new Local Government Administration Bill. If passed, the bill will place the LCDAs under the oversight of the constitutionally recognized councils.

“The governor will appoint mayors to manage each LCDA, pending confirmation by the House of Assembly, and they will be funded by their respective parent local governments,” Sanni said, adding that the Assembly seeks to foster cooperation between local governments and LCDAs, ensuring equitable resource distribution and shared administrative responsibilities.

Under the proposed bill, the LCDAs will retain the authority to execute all local government functions within their designated areas and may employ staff as needed for development projects. The bill seeks to enable LCDAs to address local needs without compromising their function or funding.

Addressing public concerns, Mr. Sanni emphasized that the Assembly has no intention of disbanding the LCDAs, acknowledging their substantial contributions to grassroots development across Lagos. He encouraged the National Assembly to review the role of LCDAs and consider granting them official status as local governments, recognizing their impact on Lagos’ growth and development.