By Bilesanmi Abayomi
At a public hearing organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly, stakeholders voiced opposition to a bill proposing that the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) fund the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) under them. The bill, part of the Local Government Administration Bill 2024, sparked debate during the session held in Ikeja on Thursday.
Legal practitioner Dr. Muiz Banire argued that the bill contradicts a Supreme Court judgment, which grants the chairman and vice chairman of LGAs exclusive control over their funds. He warned that any interference with LGA finances by LCDAs or state bodies would be a violation of the court’s ruling.
Former Deputy Speaker Funmilayo Tejuoso also raised concerns, suggesting that several clauses in the bill needed revision. Tejuoso emphasized that, per the Supreme Court, only councillors can hold council chairmen accountable, and the Ministry of Local Government should no longer issue guidelines to local governments.
Other stakeholders, including Mr. Ajose Agbejoye, echoed opposition to LGAs funding LCDAs, citing financial autonomy granted to the LGAs by the Supreme Court. Agbejoye also proposed early local government elections to prevent administrative disruptions.
Despite the opposition, some, like Mr. Adeniyi Olutimehin of the Greater Lagos Initiative, urged the House to preserve the LCDAs’ functionality, regardless of the bill’s amendments.
The debate continues as the House considers these inputs before passing the bill into law.