The 2025 local elections in Lagos are taking an unexpected turn as the Lagos State House of Assembly recently confirmed that voting won’t be held in the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This decision, stemming from a complex legal and administrative review, has thrown the future of these councils into a bit of a twist. According to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, the Assembly is revisiting how local governance aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, which specifically calls for clearer boundaries between recognized local governments and LCDAs.
Now, what does this mean for Lagosians? Essentially, while the state’s 20 constitutionally recognized local governments will proceed with elections, the LCDAs created during Bola Tinubu’s governorship to better manage Lagos’s ever-growing population are in limbo. The Assembly has been navigating public reactions to this announcement, and concerns are growing that residents in these areas might feel sidelined or, worse, deprived of local representation. There’s a lot at stake here, from the distribution of funds to local governance autonomy, and it’s clear that Lagos’s leaders are under pressure to tread carefully.
In a recent session, Speaker Obasa made it clear that the Assembly isn’t looking to dismantle the LCDAs but wants to ensure their governance structure aligns with national regulations. Public feedback has been intense, with lawmakers like Desmond Elliot emphasizing Lagos’s unique status compared to other states. They’re pushing for the LCDAs to gain formal recognition at the national level, which would solidify their role within Lagos’s governance without overstepping constitutional limits.
As Lagosians watch this unfold, one thing’s for sure: the path forward is going to be a balancing act. This decision touches on deeper issues of local autonomy, resource allocation, and the fundamental question of representation. A second public hearing is on the horizon, signaling that the Assembly aims to listen to community voices before making any final calls.
Feel free to share your thoughts on how this could reshape governance in Lagos. With the city’s size and growth, is it time for the LCDAs to be formally recognized? Or are they fine as they are, functioning alongside the 20 established local governments? Let’s keep the conversation constructive and balanced Lagos is at a crossroads, and every perspective counts in shaping its path forward.