COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS LAW OF LAGOS STATE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS LAW OF LAGOS STATE

THE LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY enacts as

1. As from the commencement of this Law, voluntary residents of any community in the State may form and register all Community Development Association, (referred to as "CDA") by complying with the requirements of this Law in respect of registration of such an association.

2. For the purpose of this Law, a corporate organisation located or operating in a community shall be regarded as may be a resident and therefore a member of a CDA.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS WHICH MAY BE REGISTERED

No CDA shall be registered unless it-

(a) is formed by not less than twenty (20) voluntary members of a commun

(b) is formed for the promotion and development of the community,

(c) pays the prescribed fee for registration; and

(d) meets all other requirements as may be prescribed by the Ministry.

REGISTRATION OF EXISTING CDAS

Every CDA operating in the State before the commencement of this Law shall within the period prescribed by the Ministry, after the commencement of this Law register as prescribed by Section 8 of this Law.

ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

1. There shall be established in every Local Development Area in Lagos State a Community evelopment Committee (hereinafter referred to as JC).

2. The sole function of the CDC shall be to advise the >cal Government on the operations of CDA in the Local overnment, in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Ministry.

MEMBERSHIP OF CDC

The membership of the CDC shall be-

(a) the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of every CDA registered in the Local Government Area;

(b) an officer representing the Local Government Area to be appointed by the Chairman of the Local Government;

(c) an officer representing the Ministry of Rural Development to be appointed by the Commissioner; and

(d) One person representing the public interest to be appointed by the Governor, on the recommendation of the Commissioner.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

1. There is established in Lagos State a Commu Development Advisory Council (hereinafter referr CDAC).

2. The sole function of the CDAC is to advise the State Government on matters relating to rural development in the State.

MEMBERSHIP OF CDAC

The membership of the CDAC shall be-

(a) the Chairman and Secretary of every CDC in the cate;)

(b)an officer representing the Ministry of Rural Development to be appointed by the Commissioner; and)

(c)two persons representing the public interest to be >pointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Commissioner.

PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF CDAS

Every CDA shall submit an application to the Local Government Area where it is located.

(1) The application for registration shall be in the format prescribed by the Ministry and accompanied by a constitution of the CDA in the form and content prescribed in the Schedule to this Law.

(2) No Local Government shall charge a fee above that prescribed by the Ministry for the registration of a CDA.

REGISTRATION

1. The Local Government shall register all CDAs unless in its opinion that-

(a) the application is not in compliance with the provision of this Law or the regulations prescribed by the Commissioner; and

(b) the objectives and functions of the CDA are accordance with the provisions of this Law or for development of the Community,

(c) Revenue from community economic projects or assets;

(d) Voluntary contributions of its members and other philanthropists;

(e) Contributions of corporate organisations within or outside the community;

(f) Grants from the Federal, State or the Local Government Area; and

(g) any other persons or agency.

2. A CDA may accept gifts of land, money or oth property on such terms and conditions, if any, as specified by the person or organisation making the

3. No CDA shall accept a gift from any source if the conditions attached to the gift are inconsistent with the objectives of the CDA and this Law.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Every CDA shall-

(a) operate and maintain an account in any bank of its choice in which the funds of the CDA are kept, and

(b) keep a record of all funds received and an inventory all the assets of the CDA.

DUTY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

shall be the duty of the Local Government to-

(a) support selected community development projects of CDAs registered under it;

(b) fund the meetings and operations of its CDC;

(c) organise elections into the Executive of its CDC;

(d) keep a register of all CDAs registered under it;

(e) submit to the Ministry, a collation of reports on the operation and community projects of CDAS in the Local Government Area, and such other returns as the Ministry may require from time to time on the operation of CDAs and its CDC, and

(f) ensure that the CDC complies with guidelines for the operation of CDC as may be prescribed by the Ministry.

DUTY OF THE MINISTRY

It shall be the duty of the Ministry to-

(a) collate records of all community development projects from the returns made by the Local Gove Area

(b) recommend to Government some selected community development;

(c) projects of CDAS to be supported in each fiscal year,)

(d) fund the meetings and operations of the CDAC;)

(e) organise elections into the Executive of the CDAC;

(f) keep a register of all CDCs in the State;

(g) organise an Annual Conference of CDAs in Lagos State to showcase model community development projects; and

(h) ensure that the CDAC complies with guidelines as may be prescribed by the Ministry.

POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS

The Commissioner may make such regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of implementing this Law; subject to the approval of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

INTERPRETATION

In this Law, unless the context otherwise require

"COMMISSIONER" means the Commissioner charged with the responsibility for rural development;

"COMMUNITY" means any group of persons with a common point of reference by geographical location within any part of Lagos State;

"MINISTRY" means the Ministry of Rural Development

CITATION AND COMMENCEMENT

This Law may be cited as the Community Development Associations Law 2008 and shall come into force on 18th day of February 2008.

NB: This article is not a legal advice, and under no circumstance should you take it as such. All information provided are for general purpose only. For information, please contact chamanlawfirm@gmail.com

WRITTEN BY CHAMAN LAW FIRM TEAM

EMAIL: chamanlawfirm@gmail.com

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