LGA Autonomy: Lawyers Recommend State Funding for LCDAs

Lagos, Nigeria (NAN) – Workers of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) remain legitimate employees of the respective states where they operate, according to Professor of Law Samson Erugo (SAN).

In a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Erugo addressed the status of LCDA employees following a Supreme Court ruling on July 11, which granted financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country.

Erugo clarified that while LCDAs are created by state laws, they are not recognized by the constitution. “The fate of the LCDA workers is arguable and has always been so because the LCDAs are not established under the constitution,” he said. “Strictly speaking, they are not employees of the LGAs, but of the states. They remain legitimate employees of the respective states within the recognized LGAs under which they serve.”

He emphasized that there is nothing wrong with states creating development areas. However, the challenge arises when states attempt to fund these development areas by sharing federal allocations meant for recognized LGAs. “In cases of such illegitimate sharing before now, the desirable change has come with the Supreme Court judgment. However, in any case, the workers are protected,” Erugo added.

Mr. Chris Ayiyi, Principal Partner at Ayiyi Chambers, also commented on the issue. He noted that LCDAs were introduced by the current President of Nigeria during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. Ayiyi recalled that it was initially argued that LCDAs would not last due to the government’s refusal to fund them. However, former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode used state resources to fund the LCDAs.

Ayiyi believes that LCDA workers will continue to be supported through the internally generated revenue of the respective states. “My worry is the clash between the LCDAs and the recognized LGAs. The states should implement the order of the Supreme Court,” he concluded.