Story by Iyiola Ayomide
Being Text of the Press Conference Addressed By the Lagos State Civil Society Coalition and Concerned Lagosians on Plans By Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa-led Lagos State House of Assembly to Abolish Lagos State LCDAs
Gentlemen and women of the Press, we would like to extend our warmest welcome and sincere appreciation to you for your presence at this press conference today. Your presence here is a testament to your commitment to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and a free press, which are essential pillars of our democracy.
As you all aware of, we are gathered here today to address issues of great significance to our Lagos State, and your role in sharing the issues that form the text of our address with the public is invaluable. We thank you for your time, your dedication to truth, and your commitment to covering issues that impact the lives of everyday Lagosians.
Recently, as you all know, the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by the Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa, proposed a Bill to replace the existing Thirty Seven (37) Local Council Development Areas in the state with Area Administrative Councils. The Thirty Seven LCDAs, founded by President Bola Tinubu in 2003 when he was governor of Lagos State, is purposed by Obasa's Bill as Area Administrative Councils to be administered and funded by the Local Government Areas under which they fall.
Gentlemen and women of the Press, please, permit us to say a few words about the retrogressive Bill of Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa and the Lagos State House of Assembly which is aimed at abolishing the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State. This move threatens to disrupt the administrative structure that has allowed communities in Lagos State to enjoy localised governance and development for nearly two decades. The LCDAs were established in 2003 to bring government closer to the people, increase representation, and address local issues more effectively. However, Rt. Hon. Obasa’s proposed Bill would dismantle these structures, ostensibly under the claim that they are unconstitutional, despite the LCDAs' success in fostering grassroots development and the judicial imprimatur given to them by the Supreme Court in 2004.
_The Lagos State Civil Society Coalition and Concerned Lagosians are opposed to the politically motivated Bill which represents an attempt to centralise and return power to local government councils that often struggle to meet the diverse needs of Lagos State’s vast and growing population. LCDAs have been particularly effective in providing more tailored services and infrastructure to areas that are otherwise be overlooked by local government councils_. By proposing to abolish these entities, Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa risks reversing the gains made in local development, reducing citizen participation in governance, and stalling community-focused initiatives that improve the quality of life of Lagosians.
If the bill succeeds, it would signal a significant regression for local governance in Lagos. It is our considered position, therefore, that the abolition of LCDAs will invariably create governance crises in communities where resources and attention are often stretched thin. Our fear and the fears of many Lagosians are that these communities would be left them without adequate representation, straining development and the already complex governance landscape of Lagos State. As concerned citizens and stakeholders, we insist on the preservation and empowerment of LCDAs as effective vehicles for grassroots governance and local empowerment.
While we remain unequivocal in our opposition to Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa and his plan to abolish the LCDAs, we wish to remind the Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly that the LCDAs, created in 2003 under President Tinubu's visionary leadership, have been the cornerstone of Lagos State’s decentralised governance, bringing government closer to the people, fostering grassroots development, and ensuring that essential services reach every community, no matter how remote. The proposed abolition Bill is not only a direct affront to President Tinubu’s legacy, but it also threatens to undermine decades of progress made in the state's governance, infrastructure, and economic development.
Protecting President Tinubu’s Legacy
It is important to remember that the creation of these LCDAs is a key part of the legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During his tenure as Governor, he took bold steps to ensure Lagos developed in a way that was sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking. Abolishing the LCDAs will not only erase a fundamental aspect of his legacy, but it will also set a dangerous precedent that disregards the will of the people and the importance of local governance.
Tinubu's foresight in creating these LCDAs was instrumental in transforming Lagos into the economic powerhouse it is today. This legacy must be protected. Lagosians will not stand by and watch as the progress made over the last two decades is rolled back by a single legislative action.
The Importance of LCDAs
LCDAs were established to address the rapid growth of Lagos and the increasing need for localised governance structures that could respond swiftly to the needs of the people. Over the years, these councils have proven invaluable in driving infrastructural development, enhancing public services, creating jobs, and ensuring that democracy is felt at the grassroots level. Abolishing these entities would disrupt local development, centralise power in an already overstretched state government, and alienate the people from the governance process.
The LCDAs have contributed significantly to the socio-economic fabric of Lagos, ensuring that all communities, especially those on the peripheries, receive adequate attention in terms of health services, education, road infrastructure, and security. Without these local administrative units, the efficiency and effectiveness of government in responding to local challenges will be severely hampered.
Our Call to Action
We, therefore, call on the Lagos State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed bill forthwith. We urge all members of the Assembly to reflect on the long-term consequences of this action and consider the voices of the people they represent.
In addition, we call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stand by the legacy of his predecessors, particularly that of President Tinubu, by rejecting any attempt to abolish the LCDAs. The governor must demonstrate his commitment to grassroots development and the continuity of decentralised governance, which has made Lagos a model for other states across Nigeria.
Finally, we appeal to all well-meaning Lagosians, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and community leaders to rise and defend our LCDAs. These councils are not just administrative units—they are the lifeblood of our communities, and their abolition will harm us all.
Conclusion
The Lagos State Civil Society Coalition and Concerned Lagosians remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting grassroots development and ensuring that governance remains accessible to all. We will continue to resist any attempt to erode the gains made over the last two decades, and we will do everything within the law to ensure that the voices of the people are heard.
The fight for our LCDAs is the fight for the future of Lagos.
Signed:
Sina Lamikaran
(Lagos State Civil Society Coalition)
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