The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) National Executive Council is set to welcome two distinguished female leaders as state representatives in its next meeting: Hajiya Sa’adatu Salisu Yusha’u from Kano and Hon. (Dr.) Waliat Folasade Adeyemo, PhD from Ogun. Both chairpersons are expected to bring dynamism, competence, balance, and inclusiveness to their respective councils and the Association.

ALGON National President, Hon. Bello Lawal, expressed delight over their elections and said they will be welcomed warmly in their next scheduled meeting. He commended the Governors of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for their support of gender inclusivity in ALGON. The president urged the new members to contribute innovative ideas and make a meaningful impact in the Association.

Their inclusion is expected to bring a fresh perspective and support the ongoing capacity-building and development programmes of the Association for the good of the councils. Several Local Government Executive Council officers and Trustees have expressed enthusiasm about the new development, anticipating a positive change in their various LGAs, states, and the Association's dynamics.

The event took place on the 17^th of June, 2025 from 9am at Nicon Luxury Hotel, FCT, Abuja.

The benefits of the National Project are as follows:

1.     Know Your citizen - Only at the level of local government can citizen be well known, through their place of residence

2.     Strengthening Internal security - Just imagine that occupants of all houses are registered at their local municipal council, there can't be a better way of enhancing internal security

3.     Crime reduction - The number of criminals in the society is far less than good people but they make life unbearable for the larger population

4.     Social scheme - Nigeria social register is in controversy because of non-availability of Proof of Address

5.     Demographic dynamics - Our demographic narratives is perpetually in state of approximation

6.     National planning - Dependable planning based on local or primary source

7.     Best Practices - Allowing every tier to function as constitutionally permissible as opposed to over concentration of all functions at the center.

The National Local Government Proof of Address (POA) project will establish a robust and reliable system for verifying and authenticating the residency of individuals in a specific location. We are confident that this project will have a lasting impact on the lives of citizens and look forward to its continued growth and development.

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Hon. Aminu Dan Hamidu, the newly elected Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State, has passed away just barely two months after assuming office.

The LGA Chairman, Hon. Hamidu, who assumed office in April 2025, died on Monday, June 9, 2025. Although his cause of death has not yet been officially disclosed, unconfirmed reports suggest he had been unwell for a while.

Confirming the sad incident in a statement was the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of the state, Kaula Mohammed.

In the statement, Radda expressed great sorrow over the passing of the Chairman, describing him “as a loyal party man, a seasoned civil servant, and a grassroots politician who devoted his life to public service with honesty, humility, and uncommon dedication.”

According to the statement, “Today, Katsina has lost one of its most committed and selfless sons. Hon. Hamidu was a quiet achiever who believed in the values of integrity, transparency, and people-first leadership. “His death is a painful loss not only to Bakori but to the entire state. “The deceased was elected Chairman of Bakori Local Government in the February 2025 local government elections and officially assumed office in April 2025. “Though his tenure was brief, he left behind a legacy of purpose-driven leadership and genuine commitment to community development,” he said.

The governor noted that Hamidu’s service across different levels of government had always been marked by diligence and a deep concern for the welfare of the people. “He was not someone who sought the spotlight. He let his work speak for him,” the governor added. “Even in a short period, he showed what leadership could mean when rooted in sincerity. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdausi,” the governor prayed. “We will continue to remember him for his modesty, his dedication, and the love he had for his people.”

Governor Radda, on behalf of the government and people of Katsina State, sent out heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Chairman, the good people of Bakori, and members of the APC family across the state.

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ALGON National President Hon (Engr.) Bello Lawal in company of the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Odunayo Ategbero, and the Director General, Barr. (Mrs.) Evan Enekwe with ALGON's high-level Principal Officers, visited the Hon. Minister of Finance. The event affirms ALGON’s avowed determination to build stronger relationships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, and development partners for maximum service delivery to the Grassroots.

The Hon Minister Wale Edun received in audience the delegation, which included Technical Adviser Hon. Shehu Jega, Dr Fasua Gbenga, ALGON Chairman, Ondo, Hon. Isaiah Onoriedo, Delta, Engr. Ikenna Adikibe, ALGON Imo, Hon. (Barr.) Haruna Ahmed Sani, ALGON Gombe.

Also in attendance are very distinguished Sen. Alphonsus Obi Igbeke (Ubanese), the Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministries of Finance, Aliyu Mohammed, as well as other ALGON team members, among whom are Mallam Nuhu Ozigi FCA- DFA, Chief Dimeji Lamuren, DPR, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim, DHR, and Chief Venatus Okafor Ast. DPRP, amongst others.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has commended Nigerian workers, particularly those at the local government level, for their unwavering dedication and commitment to nation-building.

In a press release issued to mark Labour Day, Hon. (Engr.) Bello Lawal, National President of ALGON, saluted the National Labour Congress (NLC) and all Nigerian workers for their invaluable contributions to the country’s development.

The ALGON President highlighted the synergy between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the efforts of local governments and Nigerian workers.

He noted that the President’s commitment to empowering local governments has yielded significant benefits for workers and citizens alike.

ALGON paid tribute to rural workers for their unwavering dedication, resilience, and tireless efforts despite challenges. The association acknowledged the hurdles faced by workers and remained committed to improving their working conditions and overall well-being.

The ALGON President appreciated the collaborative efforts of the Federal and State Governments, judiciary, and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) alongside the informal sector workers in supporting local governance. He also commended President Tinubu’s leadership and vision for prioritizing workers’ welfare and grassroots development.

ALGON wished Nigerian workers a Happy Labour Day, expressing hope that their dedication and resilience would continue to shape the country’s future.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for workers’ rights and promoting social justice, in collaboration with the NLC and other stakeholders.

In a landmark event redefining grassroots development, ALGON National President Hon. (Engr.) Bello Lawal, ably represented by Chief Odunayo Ategbero, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ALGON, led representatives of all 774 Local Governments to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The national conference, organized by ALGON in collaboration with Aspitah Global Resources Ltd, themed “Driving Sustainable Development Through LGAs,” highlighted the importance of strengthening rural governance capacity. Discussions focused on strategies for sustainable development, which are crucial for Nigeria’s growth.

In his address, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, used the occasion to unveil several milestones achieved by the Ministry and highlighted the importance of building partnerships with ALGON to develop the Sustainable Energy Access Project (SEAP), a key initiative of the Ministry. Chief Nnaji pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has provided tremendous opportunities for the development of Nigeria’s energy sector and called for maximum support.

Other dignitaries presented various development initiatives that align with ALGON’s vision of capacitating sub-national governments. The speakers included Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser to the President on the African Development Bank; Mr. Bryan Amonu, Data Analytics; Mr. Liu Song Zheng Brian, CEO of CKK Power and Engineering; Ms. Latifah Aspitah Isah, CEO of Aspitah Global Resources; General Timothy Olugboyega Olowomeye (Rtd); Mr. Richardson Ojeka; Dr. Fasua Tope Kolade – the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs; Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission and Mrs. Uju Rochas Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health Nutrition, among many other top-level resource persons.

It is worth recalling that under Hon. Lawal’s leadership, ALGON has continued to demonstrate its capacity to address challenges facing Local Governments. The conference explored decentralization, collaboration with investors, and empowerment through Small Medium Enterprise Business, as well as agriculture, energy transition, and security. The gathering included several members of the Association, such as ALGON State Chairmen from Taraba, Hon. Jauro Hassan; Engr. Ikenna Adikibe from Imo; Hon. Shehu Jega, ALGON Technical Adviser; Hon. Samuel Akala, former Chairman of Karu LGA; Hon. Dr. Fasua Gbenga from Ondo; Hon. Samila Husani Moniki from Zamfara; Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi from Kwara.

Key focus areas of the conference included Security and Community Safety, Rural Community Empowerment through Value Chain Development, Climate Smart Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Industrial Transformation, and Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In his welcome address, Hon. Lawal thanked President Tinubu for hosting the conference, emphasizing its potential to benefit communities through engagement and mobilization. He noted the conference’s timeliness, given the Autonomy Judgment of July 11, 2024. Aspitah Global Resources Limited’s Ms. Latifah Isah thanked ALGON for making the event a national necessity. This conference marks a significant step towards strengthening rural governance and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria’s local governments.

The event featured paper presentations on local government departments, plenary sessions, question-and-answer segments. A communiqué is being awaited as soon as possible. Some ALGON Directors were present, including the Acting Director-General, Barr. Mrs. Evan Enekwe, who appreciated the attendees alongside Nuhu Ozigi, Director of Finance and Administration, as well as other top-level officers. The event concluded with excitement.

The National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. (Engr.) Bello Lawal, has extended warm Easter greetings to Christians across the country.

In his Easter message, Lawal emphasized the significance of the occasion, highlighting the values of love, kindness, and compassion that it embodies.

The ALGON President urged Nigerians to promote interfaith understanding, tolerance, and cooperation in their various communities.

He emphasized the importance of building a society where people of all faiths can live in harmony, with mutual respect, and peace.

Lawal assured Christians that ALGON stands in solidarity with them during this festive period, wishing them celebrations filled with love, laughter, and warmth.

He urged all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Easter, which emphasizes forgiveness, kindness, and service to humanity.

The ALGON President called on Nigerians to strive towards building a nation where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
He prayed that the Easter season would bring renewed hope and joy to all, and that God would bless Nigeria and guide the country towards a brighter future.

Lawal’s Easter message is a call for unity and togetherness among Nigerians, regardless of their faith or background.

It highlights the importance of working together towards building a better society for all.

THE ALGON 2025 NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE TAGGED "DRIVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AREA COUNCILS".

…Links Nigeria’s Insecurity to Weak Local Government System.

 …Says Direct Allocation Will Eradicate Poverty.

 …Commends Tinubu’s Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

ABUJA: The Federal Government has yet to commence direct allocation to Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to ongoing procedural processes, according to Hon. Odunayo Ategbero, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Ategbero disclosed that LGAs have been instructed to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate the implementation of direct allocation. While the process is still underway, he commended the Federal Government for its efforts, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for local governments.

He assured that direct allocation would help alleviate poverty at the grassroots by granting local governments greater control over their finances and projects.

Ategbero acknowledged that while the journey towards full financial autonomy is not yet complete, steady progress is being made. He also criticized the current system where state governments conduct local government elections, arguing that it often results in selections rather than genuine democratic processes. However, he assured that ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly would soon address this issue.

“We are happy with the president, and though we have not yet reached our goal, we are making steady progress,” he stated.

The ALGON chairman emphasized that direct allocation to LGAs would help eradicate extreme poverty at the grassroots level.

“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.

Ategbero also advocated for removing the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) from the constitution and replacing it with a national body to oversee local government elections, ensuring a fairer process.

Ategbero linked Nigeria’s growing insecurity to the failure of the local government system. He argued that restoring local governments’ autonomy and involving traditional institutions in governance would significantly enhance security efforts.

“Unless and until we revisit the older system, addressing insecurity will remain a challenge,” he stressed.

He urged the government to integrate traditional rulers into the local government framework to strengthen grassroots security.

On the crisis in Rivers State, Ategbero commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in the state, stating that the intervention helped prevent a potential civil war.

Ategbero also addressed the claim of a fractional group to the ALGON Director General position, warning that any such claimants are impostors. He reaffirmed that ALGON has a clear leadership structure and dismissed any disputes over its leadership.

He expressed optimism that the Federal Government would continue implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling and strengthening 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,” he concluded.