Abuja: The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has called for the implementation of local government autonomy to strengthen grassroots governance structure. ALGON National President, Mr Bello Lawal, made the call during the 2nd Quarter Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum, organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawal, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Akala, a former Chairman of Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the autonomy process. He emphasized the importance of local governments, stating, “We at ALGON, and many stakeholders here, believe that the local government system is supposed to be the strongest tier because it is the closest to the people. Every Nigerian resides in a local government, not at the state or federal level.”
Lawal expressed appreciation to civil society organisations and the ministry for advocating financial autonomy and lauded President Tinubu for approaching the Supreme Court to pursue direct funding for local governments. He highlighted ongoing national programmes by ALGON aimed at enhancing grassroots development, including the ALGON Primary Healthcare Revitalisation and Operationalisation Programme. The initiative seeks to make primary healthcare centres the first point of medical access for all citizens, thereby reducing maternal mortality and improving healthcare for women and children.
Also speaking at the forum, the Director-General, Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS), Chief Obinna Nwaka, voiced concerns about poor monitoring of constituency projects and called for urgent renovation of the National Merit House. He also raised concerns about impersonation during the National Merit Award processes, revealing past fraudulent activities.
The President of the Forum of Heads of Local Government Administration in Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulrahman Marafa, represented by Mr Attahiru Ibrahim, urged the ministry to involve grassroots administrators in monitoring and evaluation of projects. “We are the technical people on ground and understand the challenges at the local level. It is important that we are involved in project supervision and assessments,” he said.
Responding to these concerns, Mrs Mercy Musa, Acting Secretary of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), clarified the nomination process for the national honours. In his remarks, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Zaphaniah Jisalo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Onwusoro Maduka, said the engagement forum was designed to deepen stakeholder participation in the ministry’s activities, assuring stakeholders of more inclusive and collaborative efforts in the future.