Deliver grassroots development, Tinubu tells LG chairmen - Punch Newspapers

President Bola Tinubu has urged chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to translate his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible development at the grassroots. Tinubu made the call on Tuesday at the maiden Annual National Conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, Tinubu said the impact of government policies should be measured by the changes they bring to the lives of Nigerians in their communities. He said, “The theme, ‘Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots,’ goes to the heart of our national assignment because government only becomes meaningful when its impact is felt in the daily lives of our people. The true test of policy is not what is announced in Abuja, but what changes in our wards, villages, towns and communities.” The President recalled his experience as governor of Lagos State, where his administration pursued the creation of additional local councils, which became the 37 Local Council Development Areas. “It is pleasing for me to recall my conviction on grassroots governance when I served as Governor of Lagos State. Our administration pursued additional local councils, which became the 37 Local Council Development Areas. We did so because a rapidly growing population required government to move closer to the people. “Contrary to some narratives that gained currency, our vision and focus was about shortening the distance between government and the governed, widening access to services and creating more centres of local development,” he said. Tinubu said his administration had, since 2023, pursued national development with a stronger belief that Nigeria could not develop solely from the centre. “Building on that experience, my administration has since 2023, pursued national development with a strengthened belief that Nigeria cannot develop from the centre alone. Development must take root from the bottom up,” he said. He also highlighted the Federal Government’s legal action that led to the Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy. “This Administration demonstrated political will when it approached the Supreme Court to affirm the constitutional rights and financial autonomy of our local governments. The judgment of 11 July 2024 was historic. Local government autonomy is not an end in itself, rather, it is an instrument for service,” Tinubu said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google He charged the council chairmen and elected councillors to ensure Nigerians experience improvements in primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, water supply, food production and support for small businesses. “Nigerians in all parts of the country must witness and experience better primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, safe water, stronger food systems, support for small businesses, and opportunities for women and young people,” he said. The President said the autonomy granted to local governments came with significant responsibilities for elected officials. “The autonomy pronounced in the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria places a huge responsibility on all chairmen, elected councillors and their management to deliver impactful governance at the grassroots. “Your knowledge of where the clinic lacks medicine, where farmers need support, where young people need opportunity, and where tension is beginning to rise, will help to deliver these dividends,” he said. Tinubu urged the councils to adopt evidence-based decision-making and use technology and reliable statistics in planning and delivering projects. “To achieve these goals, your councils must become centres of planning, delivery, early warning and measurable results. You must imbibe the culture of evidence-based decision-making, driven by technology and reliable statistics,” he said. He said the approach was consistent with the administration’s renewed focus on strengthening planning, coordination, implementation and accountability at the grassroots. Wike promises FCT road projects as Tinubu’s Christmas gift Obi-led NDC govt will reintroduce fuel subsidy in ‘different form’ – Kwankwaso Ibadan airport: Wike lied, FG never gave Oyo N50bn – Makinde On security, the President said it remained a top priority of his administration, noting that the Federal Government had continued to strengthen and reform the country’s security institutions. “Since the inception of this administration, the issue of security has occupied the top priority position. The Federal Government has continued to strengthen, equip, reform our military institutions and train the security personnel,” he said. Tinubu, however, said lasting peace could only be achieved through community-level engagement. “Government is however conscious of the fact that lasting peace is built community by community. I therefore urge you to deepen engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women’s groups, community associations and lawful security agencies to ensure that your sphere of influence is secured. You must prevent, detect and address grievances before they become crises,” he stated. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the President also urged the council chairmen to promote peaceful participation and discourage violence. He said, “Nigeria is entering the decisive weeks and months of the election cycle leading up to the 2027 General Election. The 1999 FRN (as amended) has given the responsibility of the umpire to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, as leaders of the communities in which elections would take place, you have an overarching responsibility to help create an atmosphere in which every Nigerian can exercise his or her democratic right without fear.” “I urge you to discourage divisions and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for thuggery, intimidation, hate speech and violence. Ensure that our youths are not lured into substance use and abuse, under any disguise,” he added. Tinubu further urged the council leaders to reduce tensions, support security coordination and respect citizens’ freedom to make their electoral choices. “At the community level, I further urge you as leaders to douse tensions, support lawful security coordination and respect the right of citizens to make their choices freely,” he said. He said the Renewed Hope Agenda must be made visible through improvements in food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, employment and local enterprise. “It is important to add that our democracy is strengthened when citizens can participate peacefully and have confidence in the electoral process. That principle is consistent with our continuing commitment to peaceful and credible elections. The Renewed Hope Agenda must become visible at the grassroots especially in food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, jobs and local enterprise,” the president said. Tinubu also urged local governments to work more closely with the Federal Government and Regional Development Commissions. “Local Government Authorities cannot afford to remain passive recipients of Federal Government initiatives without active participation as development partners. You need to elevate your capacity for coordination and innovation,” he said. He said the creation of the Regional Development Commissions had made such collaboration easier by allowing greater attention to the peculiar needs of different regions. “This has been made much easier with the establishment of the Regional Development Commissions because they bring greater attention to your peculiarities and are readily available for partnership, investment and performance measurement,” he said. The President urged the council chairmen to leave behind measurable improvements in their respective local government areas. “In closing, I wish to remind you all that history has placed the huge responsibility of transforming your local government areas into models of development that would be the point of reference. Therefore, let your tenure be remembered for the lives, communities and systems improved in each of the 774 Local Government Areas,” he said. He also urged the delegates to use the conference to develop recommendations capable of addressing challenges hindering development at the local government level. “As you go into deliberations over the next two days, I urge you to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations that would address the challenges slowing down the development of LGAs, let us work together to build a stronger federation that is secure and prosperous,” Tinubu said. Princess Etuk Princess Etuk is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over five years of experience covering national development and the economy. She focuses on public policy, infrastructure, agriculture, and related sectors, producing insightful features and exclusive reports. Princess’s work reflects a strong commitment to accountability journalism, sectoral development reporting, and informed public dialogue.

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