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🏠 Local Government Areas • North Central

Plateau State
Local Government Areas

Plateau State has 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), each with its own council, headquarters and elected officials. The state capital is Jos.

17 Total LGAs
3 Senatorial Districts
3,693,000 Population (2006 Census)
StatePlateau
CapitalJos
ZoneNorth Central
LGAs17
Districts3
17 of 17 LGAs
Plateau East 4 LGAs
Plateau LGA
Kanam
HQ: Dengi
Pop: 163,000 (2006)
Known for the Kanam Man archaeological site and groundnut farming. Important cultural heritage LGA.
Plateau LGA
Kanke
HQ: Kabwir
Pop: 133,000 (2006)
Known for the Pyam and Mupun people. Agricultural LGA in eastern Plateau State.
Plateau LGA
Pankshin
HQ: Pankshin
Pop: 186,000 (2006)
Known for the Ngas people and yam, sorghum farming. Important commercial centre in eastern Plateau.
Plateau LGA
Wase
HQ: Wase
Pop: 196,000 (2006)
Predominantly Muslim LGA in eastern Plateau. Known for the Wase Rock and diverse Tarok, Yergam people.
Plateau North 7 LGAs
Plateau LGA
Barkin Ladi
HQ: Barkin Ladi
Pop: 162,000 (2006)
Known for tin mining and the Jos Plateau scenery. Site of past farmer-herder conflicts. Potato farming.
Plateau LGA
Bassa
HQ: Bassa
Pop: 148,000 (2006)
Diverse LGA with many ethnic groups. Known for the Taroh people and farming activities.
Plateau LGA
Jos East
HQ: Vom
Pop: 137,000 (2006)
Contains Vom, home to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI). Important research hub.
Plateau LGA
Jos North
HQ: Jos
Pop: 900,000 (2006)
Contains Jos city, the Plateau State capital. Known as the Home of Peace and Tourism.
Plateau LGA
Jos South
HQ: Bukuru
Pop: 438,000 (2006)
Contains Bukuru, a major satellite of Jos. Known for tin mining history and commercial activities.
Plateau LGA
Mangu
HQ: Mangu
Pop: 197,000 (2006)
Known for the Ngas (Angas) people and the Mangu market. Important commercial LGA north of Jos.
Plateau LGA
Riyom
HQ: Riyom
Pop: 113,000 (2006)
Known for granite quarrying and potato farming. Scenic highlands LGA near Jos.
Plateau South 6 LGAs
Plateau LGA
Bokkos
HQ: Bokkos
Pop: 165,000 (2006)
Highlands LGA known for Irish potato and vegetable farming. Temperate climate ideal for highland crops.
Plateau LGA
Langtang North
HQ: Shendam
Pop: 145,000 (2006)
Known for the Tarok people and groundnut farming. Agricultural LGA in southern Plateau.
Plateau LGA
Langtang South
HQ: Lantang
Pop: 128,000 (2006)
Known for the Tarok people and yam farming. Agricultural LGA in southern Plateau State.
Plateau LGA
Mikang
HQ: Yelwa
Pop: 122,000 (2006)
Known for the Montol and Teel people. Agricultural LGA in southern Plateau State.
Plateau LGA
Quaan Pan
HQ: Shendam
Pop: 165,000 (2006)
Known for the Mupun people and groundnut farming. Agricultural LGA in southern Plateau.
Plateau LGA
Shendam
HQ: Shendam
Pop: 195,000 (2006)
Known for the Yom people and groundnut, sorghum farming. Major commercial centre in southern Plateau.
Frequently Asked Questions — Plateau State LGAs

Plateau State has 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA has its own elected council, a chairman, and a headquarters town. They are responsible for grassroots governance, primary education, primary healthcare, and rural infrastructure.

Plateau State is divided into 3 senatorial districts. Each district is represented by a senator in the Nigerian National Assembly and comprises several LGAs. The districts in Plateau State are: Plateau East, Plateau North, Plateau South.

Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are the third tier of government. Their constitutional responsibilities include:

  • Primary and adult education
  • Primary healthcare and maternal services
  • Local roads and drains
  • Markets, motor parks and public conveniences
  • Refuse disposal and environmental sanitation
  • Naming of streets and numbering of houses
  • Collection of local taxes and rates
LGAs receive monthly allocations from the Federation Account (FAAC) and generate internally through rates and fees.

Each LGA is headed by an elected Local Government Chairman, who serves as the chief executive of the council. The legislative arm is the Legislative Council, made up of elected councillors representing each ward. The council appoints supervisory councillors (equivalent to commissioners) to head departments like education, health and works.

The headquarters of a Local Government Area is the principal town or city where the council secretariat (local government secretariat) is located. It is where the chairman's office, legislative hall, and most council departments are based. The headquarters is usually the largest or most central town in the LGA.