The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) says it is committed to the full implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” policies and programmes across the 774 Local Government Area Councils.
The Acting National President of ALGON, Iliyasu Zakari pledged this during his inauguration in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Monday.
Zakari, who is the current Chairman of Agwara Local Government Council, Niger State, said the inauguration was significant as ALGON would deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda for the development of rural communities.
He said, “given the fundamental objectives of ALGON, the Board of Trustees (BOT) would ensure purposeful and developmental leadership across the third tier of government.”
The Chairman of ALGON Board of Trustees (BOT), Shaban Ohinoyi said that the inauguration was a defining moment in the association’s collective aspiration for a united, purposeful, and stable ALGON.
He said that, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, ALGON had surmounted its problems and was now firmly on the path of progress.
“Today, we stand repositioned and ready to make meaningful contributions to national development, particularly at the grassroots level where governance impacts the lives of our people most directly,” he said.
The high point of the event was the appointment of Senator Simon Bako Lalong as the Patron of ALGON.
Senator Lalong, in his remarks, underscored the important place of local governments in driving the growth and development of any nation.
He said that “President Bola Tinubu had been a committed advocate of the creation and autonomy of local governments in Nigeria, saying that all politics is local.
“I know Mr. President appreciates the role of the local government chairmen and councillors…That is why he is emphasising the need to have autonomy and to give them good attention at the local government level for effective administration.
“And so they are not only effective in administration, they are also coming out to rally around Mr. President… So, definitely we have to also support and work in collaboration with all of them.”
Senator Lalong said President Tinubu deserves appreciation from ALGON, given his years of commitment to local government creation and autonomy.
“As a President of Nigeria, you can see what he is doing, and I think there are so many ways that the local governments are supposed to appreciate him.
“When he became president, he said, look I want autonomy; even when it was not properly done, he took the matter to the Supreme Court, and the court gave judgment.
“After the judgment, the president is still saying and advocating for full implementation of autonomy in almost every one of his speeches.
“So the president is very conscious and he is thinking of the development of local governments.”