WorldStage— The Nigerian House of Representatives has approved a constitutional amendment bill seeking to upgrade Lagos State’s 37 Development Area Councils into full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The legislation, designated HB. 1498 and sponsored by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke alongside 21 other lawmakers, successfully passed its second reading during a plenary session led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The initiative is part of 42 constitutional amendment proposals submitted to the National Assembly. If passed, Lagos will increase its LGAs from 20 to 57—making it the highest in Nigeria—and raise the national total from 774 to 811.
Grassroots advocates, including National Action Group Chairman Apostle Olusanya Awosan, have pushed for swift passage, citing Lagos’s massive population and economic significance.
It will be recalled that National Assembly just commenced discussions on major constitutional changes following the receipt of 278 proposals for new Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, headlined by Lagos State’s request to upgrade 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) into full-fledged local governments.
The sweeping administrative restructuring effort, disclosed by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, forms part of a broader review that could also see the creation of 55 new states to improve grassroots governance.
The push for local government expansion spans all six geopolitical zones, reflecting widespread demands for decentralisation and closer public service delivery.
In the North-East, requests include Bidoma in Adamawa and Gudi in Yobe.
The South-East features submissions like Abiriba in Abia and several councils in Imo, while the South-South includes requests from Rivers and Delta.
Additional expansion proposals have also arrived from states such as Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Benue, and Oyo.
While Akwa Ibom State is notably missing from the list of early submissions, Lagos State’s proposal stands out as the most significant structural adjustment.
Proponents argue that formalizing the existing Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), established under former Governor Bola Tinubu, will improve governance, security, and resource distribution.
However, the bills must still clear a stringent constitutional process, requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers and approval from at least 24 State Houses of Assembly prior to presidential assent.
