LG Autonomy: ALGON Promises More Infrastructure Grassroot Development

The National President Association of Local Government in Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council, Nasarawa State, Muazu Maifata says that the recent judgement on local government autonomy would create more infrastructural development at the grassroots.

Maifata stated this while answering questions from journalists in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa.

The ALGON boss further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the initiative to seek redress through the judiciary instead of taking a unilateral decision without recourse to the law.

He added that all the 774 local government chairmen would redouble their efforts towards delivering dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

“We know that there are so many expectations from us at this time under the new arrangements where our funds will come directly.

“Expectations from our people, our principals the governors, and the president who had made this possible”.

“So, we are very much aware of all these and by the grace of God the country will be better for it in the next couple of weeks or years”, the ALGON boss said.

He further appealed to the federal government to review the current revenue-sharing formula in favor of the 774 area councils to enable them to pay the new minimum wage if eventually agreed and made a law.

“I strongly believe that President Bola Tinubu will do something about the revenues of the local government councils in the country before a final decision is reached on the new minimum wage.

“The president is one person that believes in the democratization of the local government system which was why he took these steps to ensure that they operate as the third tier of government”, he said.

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Maifata said that reviewing the sharing formula would also enable the area councils to embark on infrastructural development and equally address the insecurity currently ravaging the country.

“It will help us to generate employment and create an enabling environment for people to go about their lawful businesses without fear of attack or being kidnapped,” the ALGON President said.

He further lauded the governors of the 36 states for accepting the decision of the highest court in the country.

He said that the LG Chairmen look forward to a more robust working relationship with their state governors, who according to him are their principals in supporting them in moving their respective states to enviable heights.

Emmanuel Ukoh