By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A growing trend in Lagos State has seen several local government chairpersons adopting the title of “Mayor” instead of the conventional “Chairman.” This shift, aligning with international nomenclature, has been observed across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
However, confusion emerged when Samiat Bada, the political head of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA in Kosofe Local Government, adopted the title “Mayoress.” Investigations by Kosofe Post revealed that while “Mayoress” is sometimes used informally for female mayors, it traditionally refers to the spouse or consort of a Mayor rather than an elected official.
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Political convention dictates that both male and female council leaders assuming the role of Mayor should be addressed simply as “Mayor.” While some female mayors may choose to use “Mayoress,” the term is largely ceremonial, often linked to participation in public events rather than governance.
Given this standard, Samiat Bada’s official designation should be “Mayor” to maintain consistency with local government leadership conventions in Lagos and beyond.