A landmark legislative shift is underway as the House of Representatives, on the 26th of March, 2025, passed for a second reading a bill that could significantly reshape the political landscape of Lagos State.
The bill seeks to formally recognize the 37 Local Development Area Councils (LCDAs) of Lagos as full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs), potentially increasing the state’s administrative reach.
If this proposal successfully navigates the legislative process, Lagos, which currently has 20 recognized LGAs, will witness a remarkable expansion to 57 LGAs. This change would also push the total number of LGAs in Nigeria from 774 to 811, redefining the nation’s governance structure.
The origins of these 37 LCDAs trace back to the tenure of President Bola Tinubu, who, as the Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), initiated their creation to improve grassroots governance.
However, this move ignited a major political face-off between Tinubu and then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who retaliated by withholding Lagos State’s federal allocations.
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Now, years later, the battle for full recognition of these LCDAs is being spearheaded in the House of Representatives. The bill, jointly sponsored by Abiodun Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency, alongside 21 other lawmakers, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to officially integrate these development councils into the governance structure of Lagos.
According to the proposed legislation, the First Schedule – Section 3, Part 1, Item 24 would be altered to accommodate the 37 LCDAs, formally listing them alongside the existing LGAs. This means areas like Orile-Agege, Ojodu, Mosan-Okunola, Ikoyi-Obalande, Agboyi-Ketu, Ejigbo, Bariga, and more would now be officially recognized as distinct LGAs within Lagos.
The bill, as outlined in its explanatory memorandum, ultimately seeks to cement the existence of these 37 LCDAs as fully operational LGAs, aligning them with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. If passed into law, this could mark one of the most significant structural reforms in Lagos State’s political history.