The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the state Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, to provide clarity on the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding financial autonomy for local governments. This decision comes as part of the Assembly’s ongoing efforts to review and strengthen the Local Government Administration Law.
During a session on Monday, presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, lawmakers resolved to hold a second public hearing on a bill aimed at revising this law. Speaker Obasa clarified that the proposed changes are not intended to abolish the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) but to enhance their functionality.
“We are not scrapping the LCDAs. What we are trying to do is examine the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the Lagos and local governments’ joint account and ensure that both parent local governments and the LCDAs can work together effectively,” he stated.
Obasa also called for formal recognition of the LCDAs by the National Assembly, citing examples from other states like Kano, which has 44 local governments, and Jigawa, which has 27. He suggested that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) review the revenue-sharing formula to better reflect the contributions of larger states like Lagos.
The Chairman of the Committee on Local Government, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, noted that many stakeholders missed the previous public hearing due to poor weather, leading to the request for a second hearing. Hon. Ladi Ajomale emphasized the need for clarity among the public regarding the status of local government entities, while Hon. Desmond Elliot stressed the importance of formally recognizing the LCDAs, given Lagos’ population size and economic significance.