Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has given his assent to a bill that creates 33 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.

The bill, which had already been passed by the state House of Assembly, now has the necessary legal backing for the establishment of the LCDAs.

The bill was presented to Akeredolu for assent by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide.

Richard Olatunde, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, who confirmed the development in a statement at the weekend, stated that the creation of the LCDAs is a significant step towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people for improved grassroots development.

According to the state, the governor has shown an unwavering commitment to enhancing public service delivery, and the creation of the LCDAs will bring governance closer to the people.

The statement reads: “With the Governor’s assent, the bill, which had already been passed by the state House of Assembly, now possesses the legal backing for the creation of the LCDAs in Ondo State.

“The establishment of these LCDAs marks a substantial step towards fulfilling Governor Akeredolu’s campaign promises and addressing the aspirations of the people for enhanced grassroots development.

“Moreover, this initiative underscores Governor Akeredolu’s unwavering commitment to improving public service delivery, as it aims at bringing governance closer to the people, ultimately resulting in more responsive and efficient services.

“Governor Akeredolu remains dedicated to delivering impactful projects and innovative initiatives, just as he is poised to redouble his efforts in advancing the development of the Sunshine State.”

Meanwhile, the creation of the LCDAs had triggered upheavals within the state due to allegations of marginalization raised by certain communities.

Also, some communities claimed that the lands belonging to towns and villages were being ceded to different local councils within the state under the guise of creating LCDAs.