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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) have reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen the local government system, deepen grassroots governance and deliver services to the people.
Governor Uzodimma and ALGON made the pledge at its General Assembly recently, where the governor underscored that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu “is deliberately designed to cascade to the third tier” and pledged the unflinching support of the President to issues affecting local governments, particularly with respect to autonomy, institutional strengthening and fiscal viability.
The governor expressed appreciation to the organisers and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to grassroots governance, stressing that effective local government administration remains the fulcrum for translating policy into tangible democratic dividends.
Also, ALGON President Bello Lawal emphasised the imperative for local governments, as the third tier and the only government at the bottom of the pyramid, to build institutional capacity to reclaim its rightful place in the national governance architecture.
He extended special recognition to four former ALGON national presidents: Ibrahim Jalo Dasuki, Felix Akabue, Alabi Kolade David and Aminu Muazu Maifata, ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barr Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Odunayo Ategbero.
Lawal noted that the unprecedented attendance underscored that ALGON remains one progressive, indivisible umbrella body of the 774 Local Government Areas and Area Councils.
He noted that the Assembly considered and adopted council reports, including projects, programmes and activities executed since the last General Assembly held in March 2021 to date.
According to him, the members deliberated on factors inhibiting the effective functionality of the Association and resolved to align its operations with contemporary governance realities, including the vacancies created in the Board of Trustees as a result of the demise of some members and resolving to reconstitute the Board in line with constitutional provisions.
In accordance with its constitutional mandate, the Assembly approved the annual budgets of the Association before implementation, adopted the reports of principal officers and considered other matters of strategic interest.
“The Assembly placed on record that the National Executive Council, which by the Constitution is charged with the management of the Association, had through the Secretariat prepared and presented the annual financial statements and budget for consideration, including recommendations on standing orders and rules of procedure,” he said.
On finance and planning, the President explained that the internal organ representing the 774 local government chairmen, councillors and area councils through their 36 state representatives and the FCT, who constitute the authentic members of the NEC, had in past months met severally to distil and interrogate provisions of the Constitution inhibiting effective functionality.
He said: “Motions for amendment of those provisions were therefore presented to the General Assembly. Members were fully aware of and had taken ownership of the need for such amendments, and the amendments were accordingly carried by a resolution passed by an absolute majority of members of the General Assembly and therefore stand authentic, not by simple majority.”
He pointed out that the high point of the 2026 General Assembly was the presence of Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Secretary of the APC Campaign Council, who was accompanied by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
ALGON Deputy National President and chairman of Oru Local Government Area, Ikenna Adikibe, thanked Governor Uzodimma for his exemplary leadership and described him as a grassroots man who has continued to balance his leadership role with passion for last-mile success, noting that his visit to the Assembly marks a turning point in the event.
