On October 18, 2024, Hon (Engr) Bello Lawal, National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), led a high-level delegation to meet with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria Mission Director.

USAID’s Mission Director, Melissa Jones, welcomed the ALGON team and introduced her team members, including Jason Taylor, Deputy Mission Director; Stephen P. Menard Jr., Supervisory Program Officer; and Mukhtari Shitu, Senior Advisor on Development Assistance.

The ALGON National President Hon Engr Bello Lawal outlined ALGON’s plans to collaborate with USAID for enhanced well-being in Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas. He emphasized the importance of health as an enabler for implementing local government autonomy through ALGON’s Primary Healthcare Revitalization and Operationalization Program.

The meeting also focused on mainstreaming systems through clear-cut strategies on health, education, communication, agriculture, food security, social welfare, security, economic empowerment, and development, as well as gender equality and equity. Discussions touched on the revenue status for Local Government Councils following the Nigerian Supreme Court’s autonomy judgment.

The fruitful meeting paved the way for future collaborations between ALGON and USAID.

The ALGON’s delegation at the august meeting included Hon Iliyasu Zakari, Hon Aminu Jauro Hassan, Shehu Jega, Hon Akala Samuel Gajere, Barr (Mrs) Even Enekwe, Nuhu Ozigi, and Dr. Ben Nkechika.