Pulse.ng : Northern Youth Council rejects proposed bill for 37 new LGAs in Lagos

By Sani Idris-Abdulrahman

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has rejected the proposed bill to convert 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) into Local Government Areas (LGAs), citing unfairness and threat to national unity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, passed for a second reading a bill seeking to recognise the 37 LCDAs of Lagos State as full-fledged LGAs.

If the proposal scales the legislative hurdle, Lagos, which currently has 20 LGs, will now have 57 LGs, pushing the total number of LGs in the country from 774 to 811.

In a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna, the National President of the NYCN, Isah Abubakar, said the moves would only benefit Lagos State, thereby undermining equity and fairness in governance, and may lead to fragmentation and nationwide division.

According to him, comprehensive review of local governance structures is necessary to ensure fair representation and consideration of diverse needs.

Abubakar, therefore, urged Nigerian governors, especially from Northern region to protest against the bill.

He restated the NYCN's commitments to promoting unity, equity, and fairness in governance, urging lawmakers to reconsider the bill's implications.