Uzodimma Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment to Local Government Autonomy

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy, institutional strengthening and financial viability.

Uzodimma gave the assurance in Abuja during the 2026 General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), where he stressed the importance of effective local administration in translating government policies into tangible benefits for citizens.

According to a statement issued by ALGON’s media contact, Obiora Orji, the governor attended the meeting alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh.

Uzodimma said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to extend to the third tier of government, pledging the President’s support for issues affecting local councils, particularly their autonomy, institutional capacity and financial sustainability.

The assurance comes amid ongoing discussions about the implementation of local government autonomy and the ability of councils to exercise their constitutional responsibilities independently.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and ordered that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to democratically elected councils rather than controlled by state governments.

However, the implementation of the judgment has remained a subject of debate, particularly regarding direct funding, the conduct of council elections and the capacity of local governments to manage public resources effectively.

The ALGON General Assembly, the association’s highest decision-making organ, was presided over by its National President, Bello Lawal, and attended by representatives of local government areas across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

During the meeting, members reviewed reports on projects, programmes and activities undertaken since the previous general assembly in March 2021. They also examined operational challenges affecting the association and the effective administration of local councils.

The assembly considered and approved its annual budgets, adopted reports presented by principal officers and deliberated on proposed amendments to provisions of its constitution that members said were hindering effective administration.

The proposed amendments were approved through a resolution supported by an absolute majority of members, according to the statement.

Members also resolved to reconstitute the association’s Board of Trustees to fill vacancies created by the deaths of some members, in accordance with its constitutional provisions.

Another resolution changed the designation of ALGON’s administrative head from Secretary-General to Director-General as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of its national secretariat.

Lawal urged local government officials to strengthen their institutional capacity and improve administrative efficiency, stressing the need for councils to reclaim their position within Nigeria’s governance structure.

He said ALGON would align its reforms and activities with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve service delivery across the country’s 774 local government areas and area councils.

ALGON Deputy National President and Chairman of the Constitution Amendments Planning Committee, Ikenna Adikibe, commended Uzodimma for attending the assembly, describing his participation as significant to the meeting.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening grassroots governance, improving local administration and enhancing service delivery across the country.