The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Thursday announced that a former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, who now is a member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kawu Baraje would head a 14 man committee on the creation of Local Government Council Development Areas in the State.

Ahmed said during the inauguration of the committee in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that the government took the step in response to the clamour of the residents for more LGAs in the state.

The terms of reference of the 14 member committee, according to Ahmed include: identify all basic parameters contingent to the creation of Local Government Council Development Areas using variables peculiar to the Kwara environment while borrowing relevant experiences from other states that have similar structure; consider all factors related to viability (internally generated revenue, population, land area etc) in suggesting an areas for LCDA status; and identify suitable communities as headquarters taking due cognizance of precedence in administrative responsibility in arriving at the choice.

Other terms of reference are: consideration of other relevant factors that will ensure uniformity, equity, fairness and greater sense of belonging; Assess the possibility of converting existing districts into Development Area Councils with little adjustments where necessary and review of the reports of similar exercises carried out in the past and any considerations the committee finds pertinent.

The governor stated that the LCDA was a viable alternative to local government creation because of the what he called the stringent and time consuming constitutional process required for the creation of new local government councils.

According to him, despite the increase in the state's population, extensive land mass and other demographic features, some local government councils like Asa, Moro and Ifelodun created in 1976 had remained unchanged while several others have been created out of the others.

Baraje, in his response, said the committee would religiously abide by the terms of reference given to it by the state government.

Noting that the assignment was an arduous one, he stated that the committee would carry out interactions with stakeholders such as traditional institutions, various development associations, among others.