Recognise 37 LCDAs, Grant State Police, Sanwo-Olu Tells NASS

Recognise 37 LCDAs, Grant State Police, Sanwo-Olu Tells NASS

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on the National Assembly to be fair to the state by enlisting the 37 Local Council Development Areas and granting the state a special status in the constitution.

Sanwo-Olu made the statement at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, who appreciated the leadership of the National Assembly for holding the public hearing in Lagos, said that Lagos remained an important state in the country.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said that it was not fair that the state, which he said carries the burden of many other states, does not enjoy special status.

Further justifying his call for special status for the state, the governor said that Lagos and Kano States were created in 1967, but that in 1991, Jigawa was carved out of Kano State.

The governor said that Lagos had remained the same with 20 Local Governments, while Kano now has 44 LGs, while Jigawa has 27 LGs, describing the arrangement as unfair.

“As a nation, we cannot and we should not continue to deceive ourselves. We must be guided by the principle of inclusiveness, equity and justice.

“It is not about emotion, it is about facts and fairness. Is that fair? Is that right?

“What we are asking is that the 37 Local Council Development Areas we have given birth to since 2000, should be listed in the constitution.

“Can we have a child that is 25 years old and without giving them birth certificate?. Let us get our birth certificates.

“This issue of special status for Lagos is not a unique thing to Lagos, it is the same in Brazil, Indonesia and others.

“When you move your capital from a place to another, you do not abandon where you left. For me, as a nation, let us be fair to Lagos and everybody,” he said.

He said that the state contested the population figures of the Nigeria Population Commission in the 2006 census in 19 local government areas at the tribunal.

“The tribunal agreed with us on what we raised in 18 local government areas. Let us even agree with the figure, Alimosho LGA in 2006 was given the population of 1,371,000 while Bayelsa has a population of 1.67 million,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted the need for genuine federalism and devolution of powers, state police, electoral and judicial reforms, special seat for women, among others.