The Ondo State Government has proposed the creation of 33 new local council development areas (LCDAs) within the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, told journalists that the state executive council approved the proposal at its weekly meeting on Thursday.
Ademola-Olateju stated that the enabling law had been sent to the State House of Assembly for enactment.
Currently, Ondo State comprises 18 local government areas, and if the proposal is approved by the state legislature, this number will increase to 51.
In his press briefing, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, explained how the proposed new LCDAs will operate, stating they would perform the same functions as the existing 18 local governments in the state.
Titiloye also noted that the approval followed the recommendation of the Committee on LCDAs set up by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The committee was headed by Lanke Odogiyan.
“This proposed Bill was approved by the State Executive Council, and is to be sent to the State House of Assembly for enactment to give it the necessary legal backing,” Titiloye said
The creation of more local government areas was initially suggested in 2019 to enhance governance at the grassroots level. An 11-member committee was subsequently set up to work out the details, and the Review Committee, led by Odogiyan, formulated the plan for the new LCDAs.
The commissioner assured that the proposed 33 LCDAs will share the same equal power and function with the existing 18 council areas once it becomes law and is fully implemented.
The Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Amidu Takuro, also said the council has approved the Olora of Ora Ajowa in Akoko North West and the Onikan of Etikan in Ilaje council area.
Meanwhile, the council has assured the people of the state that palliatives will soon be rolled out to the people of the state, following the set up of the implementation committee on palliative.
It added that the state government will continue to prioritise the welfare of the people in the 18 council areas.