President Bola Tinubu has charged chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to use the autonomy granted their councils to deliver tangible development and improved services to Nigerians at the grassroots.
Tinubu gave the charge on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, during the maiden Annual National Conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen. The President was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The three-day conference, which runs from September 22 to 24, has the theme, “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots.”
Tinubu said the success of government policies should ultimately be measured by the changes they produce in wards, villages and communities, rather than by announcements made in Abuja.
He said local government autonomy should not be regarded as an end in itself but as a means of improving service delivery and addressing challenges that directly affect residents.
According to the President, council chairmen should use their knowledge of local conditions to identify gaps in primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, access to clean water, agriculture, youth employment and support for small businesses.
“Development must take root from the bottom up,” Tinubu said, stressing that Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development through a centralised approach alone.
The President recalled his tenure as governor of Lagos State, during which his administration established 37 Local Council Development Areas. He said the initiative was intended to bring government closer to residents and create additional centres for local development.
Tinubu also referred to the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, affirming local government financial autonomy, describing the decision as an important development in strengthening grassroots governance.
He urged council chairmen to make effective use of the greater financial responsibilities associated with local government autonomy by improving planning, implementation and accountability.
The President said local councils should evolve into centres of planning, service delivery and early response to emerging community challenges, rather than merely waiting for programmes initiated by the Federal Government.
He further linked effective local governance with national security, urging the council leaders to work with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, community associations and lawful security agencies.
According to him, local authorities are often better positioned to identify tensions within communities before they develop into larger security challenges.
Tinubu also urged the chairmen to support peaceful democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections. He called for zero tolerance for thuggery, intimidation, hate speech and electoral violence.
While acknowledging the constitutional responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission, he said local government leaders had an important role to play in creating peaceful conditions in their communities and ensuring that citizens were able to exercise their political rights freely.
The President also cautioned council leaders against allowing young people to be recruited into political violence or exposed to substance abuse during the election period.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda should become visible at the grassroots through improvements in food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, employment and support for local enterprises.
Tinubu further encouraged local governments to work with the newly established Regional Development Commissions to address development challenges peculiar to their areas and strengthen coordination of projects and investments.
He urged the chairmen attending the conference to develop practical recommendations for improving local government administration and strengthening Nigeria’s federal system.
“Let your tenure be remembered for the lives, communities and systems improved in each of the 774 Local Government Areas,” the President said.
The conference provides a platform for local government chairmen to discuss how councils can translate increased financial autonomy into measurable improvements in public services and community development.
The President’s remarks also come as his administration continues to emphasise a ward- and community-focused approach to programmes involving poverty reduction, healthcare, education, livelihoods and social protection.
