In a landmark decision, the House of Representatives has approved a constitutional amendment bill seeking to upgrade Lagos State’s 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The bill, which was among 42 constitutional amendment bills passed on Wednesday, aims to increase Lagos’ local government count from 20 to 57, cementing its status as the state with the highest number of LGAs in Nigeria.
Sponsored by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency), Hon. Babajimi Benson (Ikorodu Federal Constituency), and Hon. Enitan Dolapo Badru (Lagos Island I Federal Constituency), alongside 19 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation marks a significant step in addressing Lagos’ administrative and infrastructural needs.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Accommodate the Thirty-Seven (37) Development Area Councils of Lagos State as Full-Fledged Local Government Areas, Increasing the Total Number of Local Government Areas in the Federation to Eight Hundred and Eleven (811), and for Related Matters (HB. 1498),” the proposal successfully scaled its second reading during Wednesday’s plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Once fully enacted, Nigeria’s total number of LGAs will rise from 774 to 811, with Lagos overtaking Kano and Katsina, which currently have 44 and 34 LGAs, respectively.
The approval of this bill is expected to bring increased governance efficiency, resource allocation, and developmental opportunities to the rapidly expanding population of Lagos State.
