Tinubu committed to LG autonomy — Uzodimma

Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, confirmed President Bola Tinubu's pledge to enhance Local Government autonomy, institutional improvement, and financial sustainability. This commitment was reiterated during the 2026 General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) held in Abuja.

Uzodimma emphasized that the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda would extend its support to the third tier of government, pledging assistance for the autonomy, institutional capacity, and fiscal viability of local governments. The discussions at the assembly revolved around the challenges in implementing the Supreme Court's judgment of July 11, 2024, which affirmed the financial autonomy of Local Governments Authorities (LGAs) and mandated direct allocations from the Federation Account to democratically elected councils.

Despite this landmark ruling, the practical application of direct allocations, the organization of council elections, and the councils' capacity to manage public funds have been contentious issues. The ALGON assembly, chaired by its National President, Bello Lawal, reviewed ongoing projects and deliberated on the obstacles hindering effective local administration.

The assembly also approved the association's budget for the year, adopted reports, and debated amendments to its constitution to enhance administrative efficiency. Lawal stressed the importance of reclaiming the third tier of government's role in Nigeria's governance structure, urging local government officials to bolster their institutional capacity.