Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Monday signed into law the Local Council Development Areas (Creation and Administration) Bill, establishing 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
The new LCDAs are to complement the existing 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs), bringing the total number of local administrative units in the state to 24.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Gombe, Yahaya described the law as a bold and people-driven reform aimed at correcting structural imbalances, deepening governance, and ensuring equitable service delivery.
He said the initiative was in line with the provisions of Sections 4 (7) and 5 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and also reinforced the state’s constitutional responsibility under Chapter II to promote security, welfare and citizen participation.
“Our state has one of the smallest numbers of LGAs in the country, despite its expansive landmass and growing population. This has hindered development and weakened government presence in many rural communities. With this law, we are correcting that historical anomaly,” Yahaya said.
The governor directed LGAs and LCDAs to focus on four priority sectors – security, basic education, primary healthcare, and agriculture – and gave them a six-month performance timeline to deliver measurable results.
To guide the transition process, Yahaya announced the constitution of a technical committee chaired by the Deputy Governor. Other members include the Attorney-General, Commissioners for Local Government and Finance, ALGON leadership, the State Auditor-General, Chairman of NULGE and other senior officials. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, will serve as secretary.
He also disclosed that an Executive Order would be issued to formalise the committee’s mandate, while interim management committees would be appointed to oversee the LCDAs pending elections.
The governor likened the reform to the creation of Gombe State in 1996, saying that though structural changes could be challenging, they ultimately drive growth and development.
The new LCDAs and their headquarters are: Akko North (Amada), Akko West (Pindiga), Balanga South (Bambam), Billiri West (Tal), Dukku North (Malala), Funakaye South (Tongo), Gombe South (Bolari), Kaltungo East (Wange), Kwami West (Bojude), Nafada South (Birin-Fulani), Pero-Chonge (Filiya), Yamaltu East (Dadinkowa), and Yamaltu West (Zambuk).
Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abubakar Luggerewo, said the legislature gave the bill thorough consideration through public hearings and consultations with stakeholders before passage.
He commended the governor for the political will to push the reform, adding that citizens’ contributions enriched the legislative process.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubair Muhammad Umar, explained that the initiative aligned with the national constitutional review process on future creation of new LGAs.
“The government chose a practical approach by converting state constituencies delineated by INEC into LCDAs, given the volume of community requests for LGAs and constitutional limitations,” Umar said.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, described the signing of the law as a milestone in grassroots governance and service delivery.
According to him, the creation of the LCDAs will expand citizen participation, strengthen governance structures, and promote inclusive development across the state.
