By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy in Nigeria. He made the statement in Abuja during the 2026 General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), where officials discussed reforms to strengthen grassroots administration and improve service delivery.
Tinubu Supports Local Government Reforms
According to a statement ALGON issued on Sunday, Uzodimma attended the assembly alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh.
The governor said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda would extend to the third tier of government. He also pledged the President’s support for local government autonomy, institutional capacity and financial viability.
Furthermore, Uzodimma stressed that effective local administration remains essential to translating government policies into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
ALGON Seeks Stronger Grassroots Governance
ALGON National President, Bello Lawal, urged local government officials to strengthen their institutions and improve administrative efficiency.
Lawal stressed the need for local councils to reclaim their position within Nigeria’s governance structure. He also said ALGON would align its reforms and activities with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the association aims to improve service delivery across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and area councils.
The ALGON General Assembly, the association’s highest decision-making organ, brought together representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Assembly Reviews Programmes and Administrative Challenges
During the meeting, members reviewed reports on projects, programmes and activities undertaken since the previous general assembly in March 2021.
They also discussed operational challenges affecting ALGON and the effective functioning of local governments.
In addition, the assembly considered and approved the association’s annual budgets. Members also adopted reports presented by principal officers and examined proposed amendments to the association’s constitution.
According to the statement, an absolute majority of members supported the proposed constitutional amendments through a formal resolution.
ALGON Approves Key Administrative Changes
The assembly resolved to reconstitute ALGON’s Board of Trustees to fill vacancies created by the deaths of some members.
Members said the move would follow the association’s constitutional provisions.
The assembly also approved a change in the designation of ALGON’s administrative head from Secretary-General to Director-General.
The change forms part of efforts to strengthen the national secretariat and improve administrative efficiency.
Meanwhile, ALGON Deputy National President and Chairman of the Constitution Amendments Planning Committee, Ikenna Adikibe, commended Uzodimma for attending the assembly.
Adikibe described the governor’s participation as significant to the event.
The meeting also recorded the presence of Mohammed Abubakar, whom ALGON described as a former promoter of a factional leadership within the association.
Supreme Court Judgment on Local Government Autonomy
The discussions came amid continuing debates over the implementation of local government autonomy in Nigeria.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the country’s 774 local government areas.
The judgment directed that allocations from the Federation Account should go directly to democratically elected local government councils rather than remain under state government control.
However, implementing the ruling has remained a major issue in discussions about grassroots administration.
Key concerns include direct allocation payments, council elections and the capacity of local governments to manage public funds effectively.
These issues have continued to shape calls for reforms that would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
ALGON Reaffirms Commitment to Better Service Delivery
At the end of the assembly, ALGON reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local government administration and deepening grassroots governance.
The association also pledged to pursue reforms aimed at improving service delivery to Nigerians.
The discussions highlighted the importance of institutional capacity, financial viability and administrative efficiency in helping local governments fulfil their constitutional responsibilities.
As debates over local government autonomy continue, stakeholders expect effective implementation of the Supreme Court judgment to remain central to strengthening grassroots governance across Nigeria.
