IN a landmark move aimed at deepening grassroots governance and improving service delivery, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has transmitted a bill to the Gombe State House of Assembly seeking approval for the creation of 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.
The proposal, which the governor described as “a historic step towards inclusive and participatory democracy,” is designed to bring governance closer to communities, especially those in rural and underserved areas.
The proposed LCDAs will function as administrative subdivisions of existing Local Government Areas (LGAs). According to Governor Yahaya, their establishment will allow for faster responses to local needs in security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social services.
The LCDAs will also work in close collaboration with traditional institutions and community leaders, aligning their operations with the provisions of the Gombe State Chieftaincy Law (as amended) to promote peace and development at the grassroots level.
The bill outlines the names and headquarters of the proposed 13 LCDAs as follows:
Akko North – Headquarters: Amada
Akko West – Headquarters: Pindiga
Balanga South – Headquarters: Bambam
Billiri West – Headquarters: Tal
Dukku North – Headquarters: Malala
Funakaye South – Headquarters: Tongo
Gombe South – Headquarters: Bolari
Kaltungo East – Headquarters: Wange
Kwami West – Headquarters: Bojude
Nafada South – Headquarters: Birin Fulani
Pero-Chonge – Headquarters: Filiya
Yamaltu East – Headquarters: Hinna
Yamaltu West – Headquarters: Zambuk
The bill provides for the appointment of Interim Management Committees to oversee each LCDA until local government elections are held. These committees will operate under clearly defined frameworks, with budgetary provisions and staffing structures to ensure efficiency from the start.
Governor Yahaya noted that the rollout will be phased, allowing for careful planning and sustainable implementation.
In his statement, the governor urged the Gombe State House of Assembly to consider the bill “expeditiously and favourably”, stressing that the reform will “reinforce Gombe State’s position as a leader in inclusive governance in Nigeria.”
He also called on residents to embrace the initiative, which he described as a visionary reform for the state’s socio-economic growth.
Political observers in the state say the creation of LCDAs could change the dynamics of local governance, expand political representation, and increase access to government services.
If passed, this would be the first major restructuring of Gombe’s local administrative framework in years.
The bill now awaits consideration by the state legislature, with stakeholders keenly watching how the House of Assembly will respond to one of Governor Yahaya’s most ambitious governance reforms yet.