The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), alongside a group of concerned Lagosians, has denounced a proposed bill by the Lagos State House of Assembly to replace the state’s 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with Area Administrative Councils. Led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, the bill proposes that the LCDAs, established in 2003 by then-Governor Bola Tinubu, be absorbed by Local Government Areas, a shift critics argue would stifle local governance and hinder grassroots development.
Speaking at a press conference, Comrade Sina Loremikan, representing the Lagos State Civil Society Coalition, condemned the move, calling it a “disruption” to the established governance structure that has served communities across Lagos for two decades. He noted that the LCDAs were created to decentralise power and bring governance closer to the people, thereby boosting representation and ensuring tailored services to underserved areas.
“LCDAs have enabled Lagos communities to access services and infrastructure suited to local needs, which often go overlooked by broader local government councils,” Loremikan said. He emphasised that the Supreme Court affirmed the LCDAs’ legitimacy in 2004, making their proposed abolition both a legal and political misstep. “This bill appears to prioritise centralisation over the welfare of Lagosians, who have benefited immensely from these councils.”
The bill, if passed, would reportedly eliminate the structures that have driven local projects, provided employment, and bolstered Lagos’s economic development at a grassroots level. Loremikan warned that this step would reverse gains made in community-focused governance, diminish citizen participation, and strain essential services in underserved areas.
CSOs and concerned citizens argue that dismantling the LCDAs undermines former Governor Bola Tinubu’s legacy, which focused on decentralised governance to address Lagos’s rapid growth. “The creation of LCDAs was a critical response to Lagos’s expanding needs, fostering economic and social development across every community,” said Loremikan. “This is a dangerous precedent, undermining local representation and the community empowerment that has characterised Tinubu’s legacy.”
In a call to action, the coalition urged the Assembly to withdraw the bill, appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stand by his predecessors’ legacies. They argued that the abolition would disrupt the socio-economic balance in Lagos, particularly for remote communities reliant on LCDAs for health services, education, and infrastructure.
“We call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to reject this bill and reaffirm his commitment to decentralised governance,” Loremikan urged. He also appealed to Lagosians, traditional leaders, and civil society groups to rally in defence of LCDAs, which he called “the lifeblood of our communities.”
Emphasising the coalition’s stance, Loremikan vowed continued resistance to what they see as an erosion of Lagos’s democratic principles, stating, “The fight for our LCDAs is a fight for the future of Lagos.”
