The Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Dr. ‘Gbade Ojo, has said the planned creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) was a step in the right direction as it would further bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots people.

He disclosed this at a press conference held at the state’s Head of Service Conference Room on Tuesday.

Ojo noted that the planned creation of the LCDAs followed the state government’s approval during its weekly executive council meeting.

The Chief of Staff recalled the sitting of the state’s House of Assembly on the need for creation of LCDAs for acceleration of even development at the grassroots level prompted the state government to approve the bill.

“The House consequently resolved that the government of Oyo State under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, be urged to take proactive measures to establish Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) depending on population and land mass, to ensure that development gets to every community in the state,” he added.

However, a committee has been constituted by the state government to work out modalities for the creation of LCDAs in the state.

Ojo further noted that the executive cabinet during its meeting on Monday approved the recommendations of the committee instituted by the state government which are a total of 35 new LCDAs be created in the state and the zonal distribution would be in line with both political and administrative zones of the state, which as follows Ibadan zone-14, Ibarapa zone – 2, Oyo zone – 4, Ogbomoso zone – 7 and Oke Ogun zone – 8.

“It is important to add and emphasis that, the state exco just gave approval and more legal teeth to Oyo State Gazette No. 23, Vol. 27 of 13th August, 2002. That particular Gazette had created the 35 areas but with a nomenclature of LCDAs which may lead to constitutional confrontation with the Federal Government,” Ojo pointed out.

Speaking at the briefing, the state’s Attorney-General said, “we are only implementing a law gazetted as far back as 2002 by Lam Adesina’s administration due to intense pressure from all quarters to have even representation in governance and we shall maintain this status until the process gets to the National Assembly for constitutional seal to change the nomenclature form LCDAs to Local Government Areas.”

In his own comment, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, assured the people of the financial capability of all the thirty-three local governments in the State to be divided into Local Council Development Areas while adding that names of the LCDAs would soon be announced after the State House of Assembly must have concluded its own part of the process.

While speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, commended the citizens of the state for their support and compliance in the renewed Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) drive by the state government.

Arulogun said: “We received favourable responses last week from the citizens and corporate bodies in Oyo State as our enforcement teams went round for taxes, levies and duties compliance. Although, there were skirmishes in some areas, above all, the exercise so far has been largely successful. We commend the people of Oyo State for their cooperation and also wish to reiterate that we are not out to create hardship for the people but enforce compliance with extant laws.”