Ogun Assembly Passes Bill on Creation of New LCDAs

Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Local Government (Creation and Transitional provisions) Amendments Law 2016 for the creation of more Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in future.

The passage of the bill titled: ‘H.B No. 02/OG/ 2016- The Local Government (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Amendments Law, 2016,’ was sequel to a report of the committee of the Whole of the  House presented by the Acting Chairman and Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, who also moved for its adoption, seconded by Hon. Adebowale Ojuri and supported by the Whole House.

According to the report, referendum was conducted in five out of the 37 LCDAs, not included in 2002 Law, while the review of the divisions of wards in every local government and LCDAs so created by the Law under the process of Amendment as may be necessary in line with section 9 (3) of the Local Government Law,  2000.

Oluomo who later read the summary of the report of the referendum noted that after a thorough scrutiny of the report, the committee recommended that the name of the existing 20 local government councils in the state be maintained with their respective headquarters.

“The additional 37 local government areas according to the report are listed in the schedule to the law are inchoate until such a time as the National Assembly shall pass an Act to make consequential provisions with respect to the names of the said additional local government areas as provided for under sections 8(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Section 2(1) and (11) of the states: “the Local Government Areas for the time being listed in part 1 of schedule of 1 of 1999 Constitution and in the schedule of the Amendment Law remain valid and in existence; that all other local government areas listed in schedule II of the Amendment Law shall for the time being, operate as local council development areas, the funding of which shall be borne by the state government.

However, Majority Leader, Hon. Adeyinka Mafe moved the motion for the reading of the bill, seconded by Oyenuga Olufowobi after which the Clerk of the House, Muyinwa Adenopo did the third reading, while the Speaker, Suraju Adekunbi directed that the clean copy of the bill be forwarded to the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for his assent.

Meanwhile, Adekunbi commended Amosun, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdul-Majeed Alli and other security agencies for their efforts which led to the rescuing of a former senator and Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo.

The Speaker who spoke in response to the appreciation message presented under personal explanation by the lawmaker representing Yewa South, Hon. Julianah Akintayo, lauded the people of the state and the family of the senator for remaining resolute