.png)
The Federal Government has not yet commenced direct allocation of funds to Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to ongoing procedural steps, says Hon. Odunayo Alegbere, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
Alegbere revealed that LGAs have been instructed to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate the process. While the implementation is still in progress, he praised the Federal Government’s commitment to local government financial autonomy, following a Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
He emphasized that direct allocation would empower local governments financially, allowing them to execute projects independently and tackle poverty at the grassroots level.
Although full financial autonomy has not been achieved, Alegbere noted that significant strides are being made. He criticized the current system where state governments oversee local government elections, arguing that it often leads to appointments rather than democratic selections. However, he expressed confidence that ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly would address this issue.
“We are happy with the president, and though we have not yet reached our goal, we are making steady progress,” he said.
Alegbere highlighted the urgent need to address poverty at the grassroots, stating that direct allocation would play a crucial role in eradicating extreme deprivation.
“If you look at the grassroots level, the level of abject poverty is alarming. But with this new arrangement, we are confident that we will eradicate and stamp out poverty,” he said.
He also advocated for removing the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) from the constitution, proposing that a national body oversee local government elections to ensure fairness.
Linking Nigeria’s security challenges to weaknesses in the local government system, Alegbere called for the restoration of full autonomy and the inclusion of traditional institutions in governance to improve security efforts.
“Unless and until we revisit the older system, addressing insecurity will remain a challenge,” he stressed.
He urged the Federal Government to integrate traditional rulers into the local government structure to enhance grassroots security.
Commenting on the political crisis in Rivers State, Alegbere commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention, stating that the declaration of a state of emergency prevented a potential civil war.
Regarding disputes over ALGON’s leadership, he dismissed claims by a factional group regarding the Secretary-General position, asserting that the organization has a clear leadership structure.
He expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s continued implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, reinforcing local government administration.
“We are the umbrella body of the 774 local governments in Nigeria, and we will continue to support the president in ensuring that the local government system functions effectively,” he concluded.
Post A Comment: