Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on the National Assembly to be fair to the state by enlisting the 37 local council development areas and granting the state a special status in the constitution.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made the call at the South-West Zonal Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos.

“What we are asking is that the 37 local council development areas we have given birth to since 2000 should be listed in the constitution.

“Can we have a child who is 25 years old and without giving them a birth certificate?. Let us get our birth certificates,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, said it was unfair that the state, which he said carries the burden of many other states, does not enjoy special status.

Further justifying his call for special status for the state, the governor said Lagos and Kano States were created in 1967, but that in 1991, Jigawa was carved out of Kano State.

The governor said Lagos had remained the same with 20 local governments, while Kano now has 44 LGs, and Jigawa has 27 LGs. He described the arrangement as unfair.

“As a nation, we cannot and we should not continue to deceive ourselves. We must be guided by the principle of inclusiveness, equity, and justice.

“It is not about emotion, it is about facts and fairness. Is that fair? Is that right?

“This issue of special status for Lagos is not a unique thing to Lagos; it is the same in Brazil, Indonesia, and others.

“When you move your capital from one place to another, you do not abandon where you left. For me, as a nation, let us be fair to Lagos and everybody,” he said.

He stated that the state contested the population figures of the Nigerian Population Commission in the 2006 census in 19 local government areas at the tribunal.

“The tribunal agreed with us on what we raised in 18 local government areas. Let us even agree with the figure, Alimosho LGA in 2006 was given the population of 1,371,000 while Bayelsa has a population of 1.67 million,” he added.

Mr Sanwo-Olu highlighted the need for genuine federalism and devolution of powers, state police, electoral and judicial reforms, a special seat for women, among others.

He stated, “Just for the simplicity of it, state policing is not about semantics, it is about the protection of the people. So, let us have it.”

Corroborating, a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Abiodun Ogunleye, stated that the state had met all the conditions to have the 37 LCDAs recognised in the nation’s constitution.

Mr Ogunleye also called fiscal federalism, which would allow state control of their resources, while contributing to the centre.

A former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, said the state had the highest population, but fewer local governments when compared to its counterparts across the nation.

Also, an APC chieftain and former Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Lanre Balogun, reiterated the recognition of 37 LCDAs and the creation of state police.

Responding, Ibrahim Isiaka, the House of Representatives Deputy Chief Whip and chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, assured stakeholders that the National Assembly would address all demands.

(NAN)