The House of Representatives has approved a constitutional amendment bill to upgrade Lagos State’s 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The bill, one of 42 constitutional amendment proposals passed during yesterday’s plenary session, seeks to increase Lagos’ local government count from 20 to 57, solidifying its position as the Nigerian state with the highest number of LGAs.
Sponsored by James Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency), Babajimi Benson (Ikorodu Federal Constituency), Enitan Badru (Lagos Island I Federal Constituency), and 19 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation addresses the growing administrative and infrastructural demands of Lagos State.
Titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to Accommodate the 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 811, and for Related Matters (HB. 1498),’ the proposal successfully scaled its second reading. The plenary session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
If fully enacted, the total number of LGAs in Nigeria will rise from 774 to 811, with Lagos surpassing Kano and Katsina, which currently have 44 and 34 LGAs, respectively. The bill marks a significant step toward enhancing governance and service delivery in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city.
