Tinubu committed to LG autonomy — Uzodimma

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, alongside some members of ALGON in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, has “reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to Local Government autonomy, institutional strengthening and financial viability, amid calls for reforms to improve grassroots administration.”

Uzodimma, who is also the Imo State Governor, gave the assurance in Abuja at the 2026 General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, where he said effective LG administration remained crucial to translating government policies into tangible benefits for citizens.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the media contact of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Obiora Orji, Uzodimma, who attended the meeting alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to extend to the third tier of government.

“He pledged the President’s support for issues affecting local governments, particularly their autonomy, institutional capacity and fiscal viability,” the statement read.

The assurance comes amid continuing debates over the implementation of local government autonomy and the ability of councils to exercise their constitutional responsibilities and deliver essential services at the grassroots.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment delivered on July 11, 2024, affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs and ordered that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to democratically elected local government councils rather than being controlled by state governments.

However, the implementation of the judgment has remained a major issue in discussions about strengthening local government administration, particularly regarding direct allocations, the conduct of council elections and the capacity of councils to manage public funds effectively.

The ALGON General Assembly, the association’s highest decision-making organ, was presided over by its National President, Bello Lawal, and attended by representatives of LGAs across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In his address, Lawal said the gathering demonstrated the association’s commitment to strengthening local administration and repositioning councils within Nigeria’s governance structure.

The assembly reviewed reports on projects, programmes and activities undertaken since its previous general assembly in March 2021, while deliberating on challenges affecting the association’s operations and the effective functioning of local governments.

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It also considered and approved the association’s annual budgets, adopted reports presented by its principal officers and discussed proposed amendments to provisions of its constitution that members said were hindering effective administration.

According to the statement, the proposed amendments were approved through a resolution supported by an absolute majority of members of the assembly.

The meeting further resolved to reconstitute the association’s Board of Trustees to fill vacancies created by the deaths of some members, in accordance with its constitutional provisions.

The assembly also approved a change in the designation of the association’s administrative head from Secretary-General to Director-General, as part of efforts to strengthen the efficiency of its national secretariat.

Lawal urged local government officials to build their institutional capacity and improve administrative efficiency, stressing the need for the third tier of government to reclaim its place in Nigeria’s governance structure.

He said the association would align its reforms and activities with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve service delivery across the 774 local government areas and area councils.

ALGON Deputy National President and Chairman of the Constitution Amendments Planning Committee, Ikenna Adikibe, commended Uzodimma for attending the assembly, describing the governor’s participation as significant to the event.

The assembly also recorded the presence of Mohammed Abubakar, whom the association described as a former promoter of a factional ALGON leadership.

At the end of the meeting, the association reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local government administration, deepening grassroots governance and improving service delivery to Nigerians.