The Gombe House of Assembly has begun public hearings on a bill seeking the establishment of 13 LCDAs.

The executive bill sent to parliament by Governor Inuwa Yahaya barely three days ago has passed its first and second readings.

Speaking at the event, the speaker, Abubakar Luggerewo, stated that the exercise aimed to gather stakeholders’ input to strengthen it.

Luggerewo described the bill seeking to create 13 LCDAs out of the existing 11 LGAs as people-oriented, aimed at fast-tracking grassroots development.

According to Mr Luggerewo, the bill also aims to ensure the effective utilisation of state resources.

He said the legislators passed the bill through its first and second readings on the same day, given its importance.

“The bill will bring government services closer to the people, promote development, and enhance the quality of life of residents of the state,” he said.

Musa Buba, the chief whip and deputy chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stated that the bill was based on the executive powers within the constitutional framework.

Mr Buba said, “While the constitution recognises only local government areas as listed in Part I of the First Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the proposed LCDAs are to be established by state legislation.

“These are administrative units operating under their respective parent local government councils. Their purpose is to facilitate good governance, maintain peace and order, bring governance closer to the people, promote equitable development, and enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

“This is in line with the powers granted to states under Sections 4(7), 5(2)(a) and (b), 100(1)-(3) of the Constitution (As amended),” he said.

Raising concerns about the bill, Umar Gurama, a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service and a legal practitioner, who attended the hearing, said the bill has numerous contradictions that need to be addressed.

Mr Gurama said the bill, which aims to devolve the powers of the LGAs to a smaller level, had been tested in 1989 and 1991 by the military government, and it worked well.

He highlighted that the creation of the LCDAs would only be good if they did not disrupt the LGA structure and funding in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict on the financial autonomy of the LGAs.

Gurama said the Supreme Court had made it clear that the funds of LGAs must not be tampered with.

He argued that it was not the responsibility of the LGAs to fund any LCDA; hence, he urged the state government to fund the LCDA that would be created, rather than placing the burden on LGAs as proposed in the bill.

(NAN)