By Milcah Tanimu

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has expressed its approval of the establishment of 33 additional Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). However, the party has raised concerns regarding the government’s lack of transparency in disclosing the names and headquarters of the proposed councils.

Last week, the state government announced the creation of these 33 LCDAs but failed to provide the public with essential details before submitting the proposal to the House of Assembly for approval.

In response to this development, the state chairman of the SDP, Hon Stephen Adewale, issued a statement in Akure, the state capital, condemning the withholding of information regarding the proposed LCDAs. He emphasized that while they support the government’s efforts to bring governance closer to the people of Ondo State through the establishment of these new councils, it is crucial to maintain transparency throughout the process.

If the State House of Assembly enacts the proposal, the 33 LCDAs will bring the total number of local governments to 51, and they will share equal power and functions with the existing 18 council areas.

Hon Stephen Adewale also reminded the government of the process undertaken in 2019 when an 11-member committee, funded by taxpayers, was set up by Governor Arakunrin Akeredolu to determine the specifics of creating the new LCDAs. Expressing disappointment, the SDP chairman highlighted that the administration treated the committee’s recommendations as a classified document.

He further pointed out that the government’s recent announcement of the new LCDAs without disclosing crucial details like their headquarters demonstrates a lack of responsibility and compassion towards the people.

Drawing a comparison to Lagos State’s successful establishment of 37 LCDAs in the past, the SDP chairman urged the government to emulate the transparent approach taken by their Lagos counterpart. In Lagos, a committee was formed, a referendum was conducted, and the people were actively involved in the decision-making process until the House of Assembly’s deliberations in June 2022.

The SDP urges the Ondo State government to reconsider its stance and involve the public in the process of establishing the new LCDAs to ensure transparency and avoid any appearance of political maneuvering.