By Kingsley Okoye
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) says it is committed to full implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda and programmes of President Bola Tinubu across 774 local government areas.
ALGON made this pledge at a meeting of its Board of Trustees (BOT) on Monday in Abuja.
The Acting National President of ALGON, Mr Iliyasu Zakari, who was inaugurated at the meeting, said that the event was significant to national development.
Zakari, who is the current Chairman, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger, said ALGON would deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda for the development of rural communities.
He said that given the fundamental objectives of ALGON, the BOT would ensure purposeful and developmental leadership across the third tier of government.
On his part, ALGON’s BOT Chairman, Mr Shaban Ohinoyi, said that the inauguration was a defining moment in the association’s collective aspiration for a united, purposeful, and stable association.
Ohinoyi said that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, ALGON had surmounted its problems and was firmly on the path of progress.
“Today, we stand repositioned and ready to make meaningful contributions to national development, particularly at the grassroots level, where governance impacts the lives of our people most directly,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was the appointment of Sen. Simon Lalong as the Patron of ALGON.
In his remarks, Lalong underscored the important place of local governments in driving growth and development of any nation.
He said that Tinubu had been a committed advocate of creation and autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
“I know the president appreciates the role of the local government, chairmen and councillors.
“That is why he is emphasising the need to have autonomy and to give them good attention at the local government level, for effective administration.”
Lalong said that Tinubu deserved appreciation from ALGON, given his years of commitment to local government creation and autonomy.
According to him, the President is very conscious and is thinking of the development of local governments.
He said that the National Assembly was committed to ensuring full implementation of the autonomy in spite of the perceived constitutional issues raised.
“The constitutional amendment is still going on; I am a member of the committee and those issues are presently at the front burner of the constitutional amendment.
“Very soon, we will finish the constitutional amendment and you will see the efforts of the President,” Lalong said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Chijioke Okoronkwo
