The House of Representatives has proposed a bill that aims to expand Lagos State’s Local Government Areas from 20 to 57, a move that would significantly reshape the administrative structure of the state.
The bill, which was passed for a second reading on Wednesday, seeks to elevate the 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos to full-fledged LGAs.
If the bill is approved through the legislative process, the number of LGAs in Lagos will rise from 20 to 57, increasing Nigeria’s total count of LGAs from 774 to 811.
The 37 LCDAs were initially created during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007, a decision that led to a major political dispute with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who withheld federal allocations to the state in response.
The bill is sponsored by Abiodun Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, with the backing of 21 other legislators. It proposes an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to formally recognize the LCDAs as LGAs.
Faleke, a close ally of Tinubu, argued that the bill would bring governance closer to the people by improving grassroots development and enhancing service delivery. “In a state with a rapidly growing population like Lagos, having more local government structures will ensure better resource allocation, improved governance, and more direct representation for the people,” he stated during the debate.
If passed, the proposed legislation will amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to include the new LGAs, reshaping Lagos’ administrative framework to better accommodate its growing urban and suburban communities.
While proponents of the bill highlight the potential for enhanced governance and infrastructure development, critics caution that this move could set a precedent for other states seeking similar expansions, potentially complicating national administrative structures.
As the bill proceeds to committee-level deliberations, it is expected to reignite discussions on Nigeria’s federal structure, resource allocation, and the constitutional boundaries of state-created LGAs.
