Dr Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti state, has submitted a bill to the State’s House of Assembly, seeking the creation of 19 additional Local Government Areas in the state.
On Tuesday, August 3, a statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda, revealed that the bill called ‘Creation of Local Government Bill, 2021’ was forwarded to the legislature for consideration and possible passage to increase the existing 16 council areas in the state.
Fayemi also presented a bill to the lawmakers aimed at ensuring the financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.
He clarified that the council areas would tentatively be termed as Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) “until such a time as the National Assembly shall pass an act recognizing them under section 8(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
The new 19 LCDAs listed by Fapohunda are: Ado Central LCDA; Ado North LCDA; Ado West LCDA; Ajoni LCDA; Araromi LCDA; Ekameta LCDA; Ekiti South East LCDA; Ero LCDA; Gbonyin LCDA; Ifedara LCDA and Ifeloju LCDA.
Others include, Ifesowopo LCDA; Igbara-Odo/Ogotun LCDA; Ikere West LCDA; Ikole West LCDA; Irede LCDA; Irewolede LCDA; Isokan LCDA and Okemesi/Ido-Ile LCDA.
He revealed that the creation of the council areas followed series of engagement and consultations with communities across the 16 local government areas by a committee constituted in November 2020 by Governor Fayemi.
“The Committee consulted extensively over a five-month period and submitted a comprehensive report that took into consideration several issues including population of each of the proposed LCDA, availability of personnel, physical structure of proposed headquarters and broadly economic viability of the proposed LCDAS,” he stated.
He further mentioned that the State Executive Council deliberated on the proposals and resolved that the creation of the new LCDAs is in response to the agitations of the affected communities and that continuing the efficient management of state resources by the Fayemi administration will ensure that the LCDAs are appropriately funded. By the provisions of the bill, the governor shall have the power to appoint persons to administer the affairs of the LCDAs until such a time when a democratically elected authority is put in place.
Additionally, a bill titled ‘The Ekiti State Judiciary (Funds Management) Bill, 2021’ has been submitted to the House of Assembly by the governor, aimed at ensuring the autonomy and the independence of the judiciary. This bill would give the judiciary power to manage its capital and recurrent expenditure in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended).