Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Monday signed into law a bill establishing 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), increasing the state’s administrative units to 24—comprising 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the newly created LCDAs.
The new councils and their headquarters are: Akko North – Amada; Akko West – Pindiga; Balanga South – Bambam; Billiri West – Taal; 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.
Yahaya said the creation of the LCDAs was aimed at bringing governance closer to the people, correcting structural imbalance, and accelerating grassroots development. He noted that Gombe, with only 11 LGAs, had one of the lowest numbers in the country despite its large population and land mass.
“The creation of the LCDAs will revolutionise governance in our state by making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of the people,” the governor said. He directed the new councils and their parent LGAs to prioritise security, education, healthcare, and agriculture, with a six-month mandate to deliver tangible results.
The governor announced that Interim Management Committees would be constituted, while a Transition Technical Committee chaired by the Deputy Governor would oversee their take-off. He dismissed concerns about cost implications, arguing that the long-term benefits outweighed the initial expenses.
“This is a historic step, comparable to the creation of Gombe State itself in 1996. The LCDAs will serve as engines of development and bring more opportunities to our people,” Yahaya added.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Lugerewo, said the bill passed through due legislative process, adding that all 24 members of the Assembly were consulted before its passage.
