The Association of Local Government of Nigeria has pledged to work with the various state governments to combat insecurity in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which extended autonomy to the nation’s 774 local government areas.
This was stated in a statement released by the association on Sunday following its 48th National Executive Council meeting, which took place in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
The ALGON chairmen of Gombe and Ogun states, Sani Haruna and Emiola Gazal, respectively, jointly signed the communiqué.
The ALGON NEC thanked the judiciary and President Bola Tinubu for their respective roles in ensuring that LGs operate as stipulated in the country’s Constitution at the three-day meeting in Lafia.
According to a portion of the communiqué, “It is important to say that the Local Government Councils have the capacity to address issues of insecurity (in collaboration with state governments) and address all of its responsibilities, as enshrined in the 4th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), like primary health care, basic education, water, rural development, and other critical infrastructures.”
“The NEC appreciates all the private concerns, institutions and corporate bodies that made valid presentations at the Council meeting on the development of local governments and pledges to collaborate in the interest of the larger populace of the grassroots.
“The NEC, at this moment, advises members, all council chairmen across the country to be well-guided in terms of information to promote a harmonious relationship between the tiers and arms of governments in line with global best practices as exemplified by the United Cities and Local Governments in rendering the dividends of democracy and service to the rural populace.
“The NEC expresses its gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the judiciary, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, critical stakeholders, mass media, the civil society organisations and the entire leadership of our local communities, the general public for this historic Supreme Court judgment, which granted autonomy to the local governments.”
