A coalition of civil society organizations, operating under the Lagos People’s Assembly, has called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to safeguard the legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly regarding his efforts in creating local governments.
The group, which gathered at the State Assembly on Thursday, October 24, expressed its opposition to any attempt to undermine Tinubu’s legacy or diminish the power of councilors at the grassroots level.
The Assembly is currently considering a bill titled “Bill for a Law to Provide for the Local Government System, Establishment and Administration, and to Consolidate All Laws on Local Government Administration.”
This bill proposes the replacement of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) established during Tinubu’s tenure as governor with 37 Area Administrative Councils.
These councils would function under the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) recognized by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Under the proposed restructuring, the new Area Administrative Councils would be led by secretaries appointed by the governor and funded by their respective LGAs.
They would assume local governance responsibilities while retaining the rights and obligations of the previous LCDAs.
The civil society group, however, voiced strong opposition during their protest, urging the Assembly to avoid any changes that might weaken grassroots governance.
Kola Abe, co-convener of the protest, criticized the Assembly for overstepping its bounds by suspending a local government chairman, arguing that this encroaches on the councilors’ authority.
Abe stated: “We want to sound a note of warning to the Lagos State House of Assembly not to take over the role of councilors by suspending a local government chairman. The struggle for local government creation in Lagos state started 21 years ago. You will recall that our pathfinder, President Bola Tinubu, started this struggle for more local government. We also heard that the Lagos Assembly is planning to merge the LCDAs and reduce everything to 20. If God had given our leader the initiative to do this years ago, why is the Lagos Assembly trying to destroy the legacy of our leader?
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“We will not allow that to happen. We’re also surprised that the House is taking over the role of councilors when the Supreme Court has given them autonomy. We were here the first time to sound the note of warning and to call the Assembly to order.
“Lagos Assembly is trying to minimise these LCDAs that our father, our leaders, have laboured for over the years to bring development to the people with this bill. We have come here to say that the people of Lagos, will not allow that.”
The activist added that the Assembly was beginning to exert undue control over the local government in the state
He said that the Assembly should not take over the responsibilities of the councils.
He said that the suspension of a local government chairman recently by the Assembly was another attack on the constitution.
“We feel that each LG also has members of its assembly (councillors) who should deal with any erring chairman in any way they must have found him wanting.
“We are saying local government is the only way of bringing development to the grassroots and the common man.
“The current Lagos Assembly should not be a tool against bringing good governance to the people of Lagos,” he said.
Supporting the call, Sĥina Loremikan of Campaign Against Impunity urged the Assembly not to undermine the autonomy of local governments.
He stressed that the Assembly should refrain from passing any resolutions that would weaken local governance.
In his reactions, Hon. Lukman Olumoh, representing Ajeromi Ifelodun 1, assured the protesters that the Assembly would not act against the will of the people or the constitution.
Acknowledging the LCDAs’ contributions over the years, Olumoh affirmed that the Assembly, which created the LCDAs, would not reverse the progress made.
“We will not go against the wishes of the people who elected us, and we will ensure our actions are in line with the law,” Olumoh assured.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court recently granted Nigerian local government financial autonomy, freeing them from the control of governors.