By Hosea Parah
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government councils to translate government policies into tangible development at the grassroots, insisting that the true measure of governance is the impact felt by citizens in their communities.
The President, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the maiden National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen in Abuja, said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda must move beyond policy announcements in Abuja to visible improvements in wards, villages, towns and communities.
The two-day conference, organised by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, with the theme: “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots.”
The conference brought together local government chairmen, traditional rulers, federal and state officials, members of the National Assembly, development partners and other stakeholders to deliberate on grassroots governance and service delivery.
Representing President Tinubu, Akume said local governments remained critical to the success of national development because they were closest to the people.
He said, “The true test of policy is not what is announced in Abuja, but what changes in our wards, villages, towns and communities.”
The President recalled his experience as governor of Lagos State, where his administration pursued additional local councils because of the need to bring government closer to a rapidly growing population.
He said the Federal Government’s intervention in the local government autonomy debate, including its Supreme Court action, reflected its determination to strengthen the third tier of government.
According to him, the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, on local government financial autonomy was historic, but autonomy itself must not become an end.
Rather, he said, it must serve as an instrument for better healthcare, basic education, rural roads, potable water, food security, support for small businesses and opportunities for women and young Nigerians.
The President therefore challenged council chairmen and councillors to use their knowledge of local communities to identify problems early and deliver measurable solutions.
He urged them to embrace evidence-based decision-making, technology and reliable data in planning and implementing development projects.
With the 2027 election, President Tinubu also tasked local government chairmen with helping to create a peaceful environment for democratic participation.
He urged them to work with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women organisations, community associations and security agencies to prevent tensions from escalating into violence.
The President called for zero tolerance for intimidation, hate speech and electoral violence, stressing that citizens must be allowed to exercise their democratic rights freely.
“Democracy is strengthened when citizens can participate peacefully and have confidence in the electoral process,” he said.
The President further urged local governments to play active roles in food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, job creation and support for local enterprises.
He said councils could no longer remain passive recipients of federal initiatives but must become active development partners.
The conference also focused on strengthening collaboration between federal, state and local governments, as well as leveraging regional development commissions to address peculiar challenges across different parts of the country.