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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has lauded the progress recorded in the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement on the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association, Odunayo Ategbero, observed that despite a few challenges and hitches, the committee set up by the Federal Government to implement the judgement has recorded significant strides.
He remarked with delight that the Federal Government’s committee had since instructed local government areas in the country to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for seamless operations.
He charged the local government areas to leverage on the gains of their financial autonomy to address critical areas of concern at the grassroots levels, such as security, education and health.
Ategbero, who was speaking at the National Executive meeting of the association in Abuja, stressed the importance of empowering the local government areas in Nigeria to assist in driving the development of the country, given the fact that over 80 per cent of Nigerians reside at the local governments.
He equally lauded the fact that democracy has finally returned to the local government areas as many state governments have been caused to conduct LG elections, stressing that the prevalent democratic environment at the local government areas was a departure from what it was in the past where in many cases, the mandates were handed out to appointed officers.
In attendance at the executive meeting were members of the executive council and former president of ALGON, Ibrahim Dasuki, among others.
