Protocols1. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my honour and privilege to be in your midst today on the occasion of the submission of the Report of the Committee for the Creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ekiti State. 2. The creation of LCDAs is in furtherance of our commitment to justice and fair play for all sections of the state and to accommodate all genuine aspirations of our people. Through many of the consultative fora we had with Ekiti people during my first term in office, request for the creation of LCDAs top the list of our people’s demand. Surprisingly, in the course of the electioneering process that culminated into this present administration, the demand for the creation of LCDAs became so deafening that we had no choice than to adopt the creation of LCDAs as one of our campaign promises. As a responsible government therefore, having promised Ekiti-keteduring the campaign, the onus is on us to make good our promise.3. As a government that values due process, we commenced the process of the creating LCDAs in Ekiti State by the inauguration of the Committee on the Creation of LCDAs in 2014, headed by Honourable Justice Akinjide Ajakaiye. The committee was to look into the viability and desirability of the agitation of Ekiti-kete for the creation of additional Local Council Development Areas. The Committee adopted a consultative and inclusive approach to its mandate and presented to the government a report that led to the creation of 19 Local Council Development Areas from the existing 16 Local Government Areas in the State. 4. The council areas were established after the conduct of a referendum by the State Independent Electoral Commission and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the Ekiti State House of Assembly in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). 5. The 19 new council areas were to operate as Local Council Development Areas pending the concurrence of the National Assembly, which would accord them the status of full-fledged local government councils. We went a step further by inaugurating Caretaker Chairmen for all the existing 16 Local Government Areas and the newly created 19 Local Council Development Areas. 6. Regrettably, the successive government placed politics above the far-reaching interest of Ekiti people. The process was abandoned just like it did to many of the developmental policies, programmes and projects of my first term. Fortunately, the Local Council Development Area Law, 2014 that provided the legal framework for the creation of the LCDAs was not repealed. This has left us in a desirable position of simply continuing from where we left in 2014. 7. As a responsible and responsive government, it is our duty to take decisions that will be of ultimate benefit to the people who elected us to pilot the affairs of the State. Therefore, when we came on board again 2018, we revisited the agitations of our people for the creation of the long overdue LCDAs. It is my firm belief that the creation of LCDAs in Ekiti State will further deepen the existing relationship between government and our people as well as enhance our commitment to the rapid development of all our communities in line with this administration’s 5-pillar developmental agenda. 8. You will recall that on the November 16, 2020, I inaugurated this Committee, after extensive consultations, to reactivate the process that was abandoned due to the change of government in 2014. Our continued quest to meet the yearnings of our people and desire to fulfil our electoral promises informed the decision to revisit the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the existing Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State.9. Today, it is heartwarming that the Committee inaugurated last year is here to submit its findings and recommendations to the government. I have no doubt that the Committee would have done a thorough job on the assignment given in the best interest of the State. 10. The report will be painstakingly studied by the government for necessary administrative engagements to ensure an outcome that we can all be proud of. A desirable outcome that will not only meet the yearnings of our people, but equally guarantee an equitable revenue allocation arrangement to ensure the sustainability of the LCDAs is paramount.11. To achieve this in concrete terms, I am today announcing the establishment of an Inter Ministerial Committee to oversee the implementation of this process. Members of the Committee are as follows:i. Olawale Fapohunda, Attorney-General-Chairman ii. Akintunde Oyebode, Hon. Comm. for F&ED- Memberiii. Prof. Adio Afolayan, Comm. for Local Govt-Memberiv. Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade, HC Women Affairs-Member v. Hon. Samuel Abejide, Chairman, LGSC-Membervi. Prof. Bolaji Aluko, DG OTSD-Membervii. Dr. Kolade Amire, Chairman, ALGON-Memberviii. Mrs Sola Gbenga-Igotun-Secretary
Terms of Referencea. Review report of the LCDA Committee and propose the following:- An Appropriate Legal Framework for the establishment of Proposed LCDAs
-A framework for the distribution of assets, liabilities and personnel between existing LGAs and the proposed LCDAs
-A practical commencement plan including date as well as required human and financial resources to support commencement of LCDAs
b.Advice the State Government on any other matter that would facilitate the effective take off and sustainability of the LCDAs
The Committee has three months to submit its report.
12.I thank the Chairperson and members of the Committee for selflessly serving the State in this capacity. I commend you for approaching the assignment with courage, impartiality and equanimity. May posterity be kind to you for your labour of love and show of commitment.
13.Ladies and gentlemen, it is on this note that I formally receive the Report of the Committee on the Creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ekiti State to the glory of God and benefit of the people of the State.14. Alale Ekiti a gbe a o.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor
