By Olasunkomi Akoni
A Human rights group in collaboration with coalition of civil society groups  has concluded plans to stage a fresh peaceful demonstration to the seventh National Assembly on the need for the enlistment of the Lagos State 37 Local Councils Development Areas, LCDAs, in the constitution.

This came as the chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Lagos State Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan was presented with an award for good performance in recognition of various outstanding developmental projects executed by his administration in Ejigbo council so far.

On the planned protest to Abuja, the National Coordinator of the rights group, Mr Declan Ihekaire, who led a seven- man team, including a Ghanaian human rights activist, Mr Solomon Antwi to Bamigbetan, said that his group in collaboration with coalition of civil society groups was  embarking on a peaceful campaign to the National Assembly in Abuja, to demand the immediate enlistment of 37 LCDAs as legal local government areas.

Ihekaire, who contended that creation of the 37 LCDAs in 2004 followed due process according to the dictates of the Nigeria Constitution, accused members of the sixth national assembly of playing politics with the issue.

He stated that the 37 LCDAs since the creation have been performing fairly well adding that if the councils were adequately funded, they would perform better than they have done presently, hence, the group decided to lay fresh complaints before the assembly.

“During our assessment tour of the 57 councils in Lagos state last year, we discovered that there is high level of developments going on in all the councils, and this goes to show that, the councils if given more fund will perform better.

“The non enlistment of 37 LCDAs by National Assembly up till now is a great injustice and disservice to Lagos residents, because when you compare the population of Lagos State to Kano, Delta Jigawa, kebbi and other states, the creation is justifiable and based on this conviction we have made up our mind to embark on a peaceful protest to the National Assembly to demand the enlistment of the 37 LCDAs”, he said.