The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy, stronger institutions and financial sustainability to improve grassroots administration across Nigeria.
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 (ALGON), where he stressed the importance of effective local administration in translating government policies into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to a statement issued by ALGON on Sunday, Uzodimma attended the meeting alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, and pledged the President’s support for reforms to strengthen local governments.
“He pledged the President’s support for issues affecting local governments, particularly their autonomy, institutional capacity and fiscal viability,”
The assurance comes amid ongoing debates over the implementation of local government autonomy and the capacity of councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and provide essential services.
In a landmark judgment delivered on July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and ordered that their allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to democratically elected councils rather than controlled by state governments.
However, the implementation of the ruling has remained a key issue, particularly regarding direct funding, council elections and the capacity of local governments to manage public resources effectively.
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The ALGON General Assembly, the association’s highest decision-making body, was presided over by its National President, Bello Lawal, and attended by representatives of local governments 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 improving the position of councils within Nigeria’s governance structure.
The assembly reviewed reports on projects, programmes and activities undertaken since its previous general assembly in March 2021. It also examined operational challenges and considered measures to improve the functioning of local governments.
Members approved the association’s annual budgets, adopted reports presented by its principal officers and endorsed proposed amendments to constitutional provisions identified as obstacles to effective administration.
According to the statement, the amendments were approved through a resolution supported by an absolute majority of members.
The assembly also resolved to reconstitute the association’s Board of Trustees to fill vacancies arising from the deaths of some members, in line with its constitution.
In another decision, members approved a change in the designation of the association’s administrative head from Secretary-General to Director-General to improve the efficiency of its national secretariat.
Lawal urged local government officials to strengthen their institutional capacity and improve administrative efficiency, saying the third tier of government needed to play a more effective role in Nigeria’s governance structure.
He added that ALGON 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.
The Deputy National President of ALGON and Chairman of its Constitution Amendments Planning Committee, Ikenna Adikibe, commended Uzodimma for attending the assembly, describing his participation as significant to the meeting.
The association also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening grassroots governance, improving local administration and enhancing service delivery across the country.
