By Hosea Parah
The Federal Government has unveiled a compendium documenting the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as it moved to strengthen monitoring of government projects across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The compendium, titled “Snapshots of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements Under His Renewed Hope Agenda,” was unveiled at the maiden National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen, where President Tinubu also declared the conference open.
A major focus of the conference was the Federal Government’s proposed National Local Government Project Tracking Plan, designed to provide a comprehensive system for monitoring government interventions at the grassroots.
The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs said the proposed electronic tracking framework would build on existing Geographic Information System and project-monitoring platforms to provide reliable, real-time information on projects across the 774 local government areas.
Under the framework, projects would be geographically mapped and monitored according to their location, implementing authorities, financial commitments, timelines, level of completion and field evidence.
The ministry said the system would enable government to identify abandoned, delayed or stalled projects early, while improving accountability, coordination and evidence-based decision-making.
It identified poor access to reliable information on local government projects as one of the major obstacles to effective monitoring and evaluation of development programmes.
The conference also drew attention to the economic potential of rural communities, particularly in agriculture, solid minerals, human capital and infrastructure.
The ministry stressed that local governments have a critical role in identifying economic opportunities within their jurisdictions and creating conditions capable of attracting investment and supporting enterprise development.
It further highlighted the importance of rural roads and other infrastructure in connecting farmers to markets, opening up local economies and facilitating the movement of goods and services.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Backs Initiative
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs backed the grassroots-focused approach, arguing that developments at the local level have implications for Nigeria’s international image and relations.
Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Shola a ministry representative said effective grassroots governance would demonstrate that government policies were being implemented through an inclusive, bottom-up approach.
He also noted that local governments and traditional institutions could play important roles in attracting foreign investment, development partnerships, technical cooperation and international support for community development and security.
The conference also featured technical discussions on modern agricultural technology, food exports and investment opportunities in rural communities.
Experts were expected to share perspectives on agricultural technology, export development and foreign direct investment, with the organisers saying the sessions were aimed at equipping council chairmen with practical strategies for strengthening local economies.
President Tinubu charged participants to ensure that their deliberations produced concrete recommendations capable of improving governance, accountability, security and development across the country.
He urged local government leaders to make their councils models of grassroots development.
“Let your tenure be remembered for the lives, communities and systems improved in each of the 774 local government areas,” he charged.
The President subsequently declared the maiden National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen open, urging participants to work collectively towards building a stronger, secure and prosperous federation.
The Federal Government has continued to emphasise the role of local governments in implementing national programmes at the community level. ALGON describes itself as the representative platform for Nigeria’s 774 local governments and area councils.
The conference ended with a call for actionable recommendations that would strengthen grassroots governance, accountability, security, investment and development across the country.