In a major step aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and addressing structural imbalances in local administration, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Monday signed into law the Local Council Development Areas (Creation & Administration) Bill, formally establishing 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
With this legislation, the number of local administrative units in Gombe rose from 11 to 24, a move the governor described as a “bold, constitutional, and people-driven reform” intended to bring government closer to underserved communities.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Government House, Governor Yahaya stated that the newly created LCDAs were carved out based on state constituencies and modeled after successful structures in other parts of the country.
He cited Sections 4(7) and 5(2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the legal foundation for the reform, affirming it as a fulfillment of the state’s obligation to promote security, welfare, and democratic participation in line with Chapter II of the Constitution.
“Our state has one of the smallest numbers of LGAs in the country, despite our expansive landmass and growing population,” the governor noted. “This imbalance has hampered development and diluted government presence in rural areas. We are correcting that historical anomaly.”
Governor Yahaya directed both the existing Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the newly created LCDAs to prioritize four critical sectors: security, basic education, primary healthcare, and agriculture. He issued a six-month performance timeline for all councils to begin delivering tangible results in these areas.
To oversee a smooth transition, a Transition Technical Committee has been constituted under the leadership of the Deputy Governor.
The high-level team includes the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioners for Local Government and Finance, ALGON Chairman and Deputy, DG of the Joint Projects Development Agency, the State Auditor-General, and the Chairman of NULGE, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development serving as secretary.
An Executive Order to formalize the committee’s mandate is expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, an Interim Management Committee, he said, will be established to manage the affairs of the LCDAs until full operational structures and future elections are in place.
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Presenting the bill for assent, Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, praised the legislative process, stating that the bill underwent extensive stakeholder engagement, including public hearings and input from across the state.
“We made thoughtful amendments to ensure the bill is operationally sound and responsive to grassroots needs,” he said.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubair Muhammad Umar, provided legal context, explaining that the creation of LCDAs aligns with national constitutional review efforts aimed at expanding local government representation. He added that converting INEC-delineated state constituencies into LCDAs was a strategic and practical solution to growing community demands.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, described the event as a milestone in the state’s effort to deepen grassroots democracy and service delivery.
“The creation of these 13 LCDAs will expand opportunities for citizen participation and foster inclusive development,” Njodi said.
Governor Yahaya concluded by likening the reform to the creation of Gombe State itself in 1996, noting that structural changes, though initially challenging, lead to transformative growth. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a more inclusive and development-driven Gombe.
