Text of the Address by His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria on the occasion of the INAUGURATION OF COMMITTEE ON THE CREATION OF LOCAL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN EKITI STATE Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Monday, November 16, 2020

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Text of the Address by
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
on the occasion of the
INAUGURATION OF COMMITTEE ON THE CREATION OF
LOCAL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN EKITI STATE
Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Monday, November 16, 2020
Protocols
1. You may recall that exactly one month today, while
delivering the ‘State of the State’ address in
commemoration of the Second Anniversary of my
administration, I mentioned that after extensive
consultations, my administration has decided to revisit
the creation of Local Council Development Areas
(LCDAs) from the existing Local Government Areas
(LGAs) in Ekiti State. The creation of LCDAs is in
furtherance of our commitment to justice and fair play

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for all sections of this state and to accommodate all
genuine aspirations of our people.
2. Ekiti State has a long history of well-articulated
demands for the creation of LCDAs. You may recall that
in 2014, a Committee on the Creation of Local Council
Development Areas, chaired by Honourable Justice
Akinjide Ajakaiye was inaugurated 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
government a report that led to the creation of additional
19 Local Council Development Areas from the existing
16 Local Government Areas in the State.
3. 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)
The 19 new council areas were to operate as Local
Council Development Areas pending the concurrence of

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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.
4. Regrettably, the successor 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. Thankfully, 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.
5. I must emphasise that the creation of the LCDAs is in
response to the agitation of our people for enhanced
representation at all levels of government. For added
emphasis, all through the electioneering process that
produced the current administration in Ekiti State, and
at various consultative meetings facilitated by
government since the inception of this administration,

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the request for the creation of additional LCDAs
continues to top the list of the demands of our people.
6. As a responsible and responsive government, it is our
duty to take decisions that will be of ultimate benefit of
the people who elected us to pilot the affairs of the State.
I am, satisfied 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.
7. Today we once again commence the process of the
creating LCDAs in Ekiti State by the inauguration of the
Committee on the Creation of LCDAS. The Terms of
Reference of the Committee are:
a) Review the Local Council Development Area Law,
Ekiti State 2014 and make recommendations on its
relevance in view of current legal developments in
Ekiti State.
b) Consult extensively with the communities where
LCDAs secretariat were created by the Local Council

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Development Area Law, Ekiti State 2014 and make
recommendations on their current economic
viability and suitability with a view to ensuring
uniformity, equity, fairness across the Local
Government Areas.
c) Recommend to the State Government practical
steps for the creation of Local Council Development
Areas out of the existing 16 Local Government Areas
in Ekiti State.
The Committee will have three months to conclude its
assignment.
8. I thank the Chairperson and members of the
Committee for agreeing to serve the state in this capacity.
The task before the Committee is no doubt daunting.
Implicit in the terms of reference is a mandate to advise
Government on necessary immediate administrative
arrangements as well as proposals for an equitable
revenue allocation arrangement to ensure the
sustainability of the LCDAs.
9. I urge the Committee to diligently work within the
framework of the terms of reference and come up with

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a report that will ensure smooth and rancour free
arrangement. I enjoin you to approach the assignment
with courage, impartiality and equanimity. I have the
firm belief that you will deliver on your mandate
effectively and satisfactorily.
10. I now formally inaugurate the Committee on
Creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in
Ekiti State to the glory of God and benefit of the people of
Ekiti State.
Alale Ekiti a gbe a o.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor