The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at improving administrative efficiency and governance in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.
The resolution was passed during Monday’s plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
Presenting the report, Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon (Kosofe I) highlighted that the new framework was designed to streamline local administration and ensure consistency with state laws. The report was subsequently debated and adopted by the lawmakers.
According to Section 5 of the approved guidelines, each Local Government Executive Committee will consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Supervisors, Special Advisers, Secretary to the Local Government, Council Manager, Council Treasurer, and the Head of Legal Unit.
Section 6 stipulates that any appointment not expressly provided for in the guidelines or existing bye-laws must receive the Governor’s approval before taking effect.
The Vice Chairman’s responsibilities are clearly outlined in Section 8, with Subsection 8.1(a) defining the office’s duties and performance expectations, while Subsection 8.1(b) names the Vice Chairman as the Chair of the Tenders Board.
Under Section 15, the document mandates the creation of Departmental Standing Committees in all departments. These committees are expected to meet at least twice monthly to evaluate and recommend projects for approval by the Executive Committee. Each committee will comprise the department’s Supervisor as Chairman, the Head of Department, Sectional Head, and a representative of the Council Manager.
Lawmakers described the initiative as a landmark development for local governance. Hon. Aro Moshood praised the guidelines as “top-notch,” noting their potential to make Lagos a model for effective grassroots administration, though he sought clarification on some numbering inconsistencies.
Hon. Kehinde Joseph raised concerns about the exclusion of the Chief of Staff’s role, urging a review, while Hon. Abiodun Orekoya called for alignment between the number of supervisors stated in the guidelines and those in the principal law.
Hon. Bonu Solomon also commended the inclusion of community policing provisions, describing it as a forward-thinking step that would boost security and create employment opportunities.
The approval of the new administrative framework reinforces the Assembly’s commitment to strengthening grassroots governance and promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in local administration under the leadership of Speaker Obasa.
