The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has expressed happiness that citizens in states with elected local governments and local councils Chief Executives are experiencing better delivery of services at the closest tier of government to the grassroots.

The association therefore thanked President Buhari, Governors, national assembly members and other stakeholders for their “support for a virile local government system and Councils through the electoral process”, urging state governors without elected Council chairmen to encourage the building of a stronger reputation for service delivery through democratically elected officials.

ALGON in a statement personally signed by the ALGON National President, Hon. Kolade Alabi David, noted that “Nigerians can now see the difference from available scorecard across states where local elections are practiced with the kind of grassroots inclusion and numerous dividends.”

The full text of the statement reads:

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) under the leadership of Hon Kolade Alabi David the National Executive Council, (NEC), the Board of Trustees (BOT), wish to thank the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces President Muhammadu Buhari, the State Governors, the National Assembly, and the three Arm of Government across the states for their continued support for a virile local government system and Councils through the electoral process.

So far it is on good records that recent experiences in the third Tier have shown that local governments/Councils are becoming more viable instruments of grassroots political change through election legitimacy.

Such has broadening local participation and service delivery and need to be unhindered just like in States and Federal where gaps or makeshift were not contemplated.

We appreciate the efforts of states Governor’s despite the paucity of funds by ensuring that council elections were conducted.

The year 2020 has been very commendable with some remarkable elections especially in some states like Borno, and Bauchi where elections were not conducted for over a decade.

ALGON specifically wish to thank the Governor’s Forum as well as Governor’s currently running the LG/Councils through elected officials and commend the recent entry of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kogi Abia as well as those that have maintained unbroken electoral system like Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Kaduna, Ekiti and so on where some of them even had their elections recently.

It has become very necessary to urge Governor’s that are still running their respective states with interim Chairmen to have a rethink and embark on Local election.

It is with keen interest that ALGON is also anticipating the fulfilment of many other Governor’s like Kano, Ogun with elections coming up soon to join the democratically elected local government/Council system.

ALGON wishes to specifically thank Governor’s of Delta, Nasarawa for their promt efforts in ensuring that gaps were not created through a smooth electoral transition having scheduled it’s elections prior to expiration of existing tenure knowing fully well that Caretaker is illegal, unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

ALGON is happy that Nigerians can now see the difference from available scorecard across states where local elections are practiced with the kind of grassroots inclusion and numerous dividends.

The third Tier of Government is truly the closest to the citizens and should be encouraged to building a stronger reputation for service delivery through democratically elected officials.