Gombe Governor, Inuwa, Creates 13 New LCDAs To Boost Grassroots Development
By Muhammad Faruk Bayu, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has signed into law a bill establishing 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to complement the existing 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
With this move, the total number of local administrative units in Gombe rises from 11 to 24, a reform the governor described as bold, constitutional, and people-driven.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Government House, Governor Yahaya said the creation of the LCDAs was aimed at correcting long standing structural imbalances, expanding governance, and ensuring fair service delivery, especially to underserved rural communities.
“Our state has one of the smallest numbers of LGAs in Nigeria despite our large landmass and growing population. This imbalance has slowed development and reduced government presence in many communities. With this law, we are correcting that historical gap,” he said.
The governor directed LGAs and the new LCDAs to focus on four core areas: security, basic education, primary healthcare, and agriculture. He also gave a six month timeline for them to begin delivering visible results.
To ensure smooth implementation, Governor Yahaya set up a Transition Technical Committee chaired by the deputy governor, with key officials including the Attorney General, commissioners, ALGON leaders, and the auditor-general as members.
An executive order will soon be signed to formalise their mandate, while Interim Management Committees will oversee the LCDAs pending future elections.
The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, who presented the Bill for assent, said the Assembly subjected the proposal to thorough scrutiny, public hearings, and stakeholder engagement before its passage. He praised the governor’s foresight and political will in pushing for grassroots reforms.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubair Muhammad Umar, explained that the LCDAs were created using state constituencies as delineated by INEC, adding that the move aligns with the ongoing constitutional review which may in the future allow their upgrade into full LGAs.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, described the development as a major milestone that will strengthen local governance and increase citizen participation.
The newly created LCDAs and their headquarters include: 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).
Governor Inuwa Yahaya compared the reform to the creation of Gombe State itself in 1996, stressing that though structural reforms are demanding at first, they bring long term benefits.