Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Monday assented to the bill creating 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Yahaya said with the new law, Gombe now has 24 administrative units, comprising 11 existing Local Government Areas and the 13 LCDAs.
He said the LCDAs and their headquarters are: Akko North – Amada; Akko West – Pindiga; Balanga South – Bambam; Billiri West – Taal; Dukku North – Malala; and Funakaye South – Tongo.
Others are Gombe South – Bolari; Kaltungo East – Wange; Kwami West – Bojude; Nafada South – Birin-Fulani; Pero-Chonge – Filiya; Yamaltu East – Dadinkowa; andYamaltu 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, has 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 LCDAs and their parent councils to prioritise security, education, healthcare and agriculture in their operations, stressing that they must deliver tangible results within six months.
He further announced that Interim Management Committees would be put in place, while a Transition Technical Committee chaired by the Deputy Governor would oversee the take-off of the new councils.
Yahaya dismissed concerns over cost implications, arguing that the long-term benefits of the reform far outweighed the initial expenses.
“This is a historic step like the creation of Gombe State itself in 1996, the LCDAs will serve as engines of development and bring more opportunities to our people,” he said.
Speaking earlier Abubakar Lugerewo, Speaker, Gombe State House of Assembly, said the bill passes through the normal process before the assent.
He said all 24 members of the Assembly were consulted before its passage.