The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has called on the federal government to quickly implement local government autonomy to improve governance at the grassroots level across the country.
Speaking at the 2nd Quarter Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum in Abuja, ALGON National President, Mr. Bello Lawal, represented by Mr. Emmanuel Akala, praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating the autonomy process.
Lawal stressed that local governments are the tier closest to the people and must be empowered to function properly. “Every Nigerian lives in a local government, not a state or federal government,” he said, urging the implementation committee to fast-track the Supreme Court’s ruling on direct funding for local governments.
ALGON is also leading key initiatives, including the Primary Healthcare Revitalisation Programme, aimed at improving health services, especially for women and children. The group is working to make primary healthcare centres the first point of care across communities.
Another ongoing project is the National Integrated Local Government System, which will digitize the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and indigene status to improve record-keeping and service delivery.
At the forum, Chief Obinna Nwaka of the Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) called for the rehabilitation of the National Merit House, highlighting concerns about the nomination process for the National Merit Award and the need for proper monitoring of projects.
Alhaji Abdulrahman Marafa, President of the Forum of Heads of Local Government Administration in Nigeria, suggested involving grassroots administrators in project monitoring and evaluation for better results.
Responding to concerns, Mrs. Mercy Musa, Acting Secretary of the Nigerian National Merit Award, assured that the award nomination process is free and transparent, conducted annually by independent experts.
The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Zaphaniah Jisalo, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, said the forum aimed to deepen stakeholder participation and strengthen cooperation to ensure projects deliver real benefits at the grassroots level.
He reassured Nigerians of the ministry’s commitment to inclusive, evidence-based efforts to improve health, infrastructure, and education services in local communities.
