The Federal Government has yet to commence direct allocation to Local Government Areas due to ongoing procedural processes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Hon. Odunayo Alegbere, has disclosed.
Speaking on the development, Alegbere confirmed that LGAs had been instructed to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate the implementation of direct allocation. While the process is still ongoing, he praised the Federal Government for its commitment, particularly following the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming financial autonomy for local governments.
He assured that the planned direct allocation would empower LGAs, ensuring greater financial control and boosting grassroots development.
“We are happy with the president, and though we have not yet reached our goal, we are making steady progress,” Alegbere stated.
The ALGON chairman stressed that direct allocation to LGAs would help combat poverty at the grassroots level by giving local governments the financial independence needed to execute projects effectively.
“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 further criticized the current system where state governments oversee local government elections, arguing that it often results in politically influenced selections rather than genuine democratic processes. Alegbere noted that ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly were expected to address this issue.
As part of electoral reforms, he advocated for the removal of the State Independent Electoral Commission from the constitution, proposing that a national electoral body should take over the conduct of local government elections to ensure a more transparent and democratic process.
Alegbere also linked Nigeria’s growing insecurity to the failure of the local government system, insisting that restoring autonomy and strengthening grassroots governance would significantly improve security.
“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 framework, arguing that their involvement would help enhance grassroots security efforts.
On the crisis in Rivers State, Alegbere commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in the state, describing the intervention as a necessary step to prevent further instability.
He stated that the action was timely, considering the rising tensions in the oil-rich state, and noted that without the Federal Government’s intervention, the situation could have escalated into a major conflict.
Addressing reports of a fractional group claiming the ALGON Secretary-General position, Alegbere dismissed such claims as illegitimate, warning that any such individuals were impostors. He reaffirmed ALGON’s leadership structure, insisting there was no dispute over its hierarchy.
In conclusion, he expressed optimism that the Federal Government would fully implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy and continue working towards strengthening the 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,” Alegbere stated.
