Tinubu Appoints LG Chairmen, Councillors As Grassroots Monitors

By Otsapa Agada, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of local government council chairmen and councillors as monitoring and evaluation officers for economic development projects at the local government and ward levels, respectively.

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, disclosed this on Thursday at the General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Abuja.

Uzodimma said the approval would strengthen grassroots participation in monitoring development initiatives and improve accountability in the delivery of public services.

Speaking on the theme, “Grassroots Governance in a New Era: Driving Socio-Economic Growth, Security and Community Resilience,” the governor urged council officials to take ownership of the Federal Government’s development agenda and communicate its achievements to Nigerians at the grassroots.

He explained that council chairmen would serve as monitoring and evaluation officers for their respective local government areas, while councillors would perform similar responsibilities at the ward level.

According to him, the appointment letters would be communicated through the ALGON national president.

Council Officials to Drive Grassroots Communication

Uzodimma urged local government officials to effectively communicate the policies and achievements of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to their constituents.

He said such communication should be based on persuasion and credible evidence in order to secure public support for government programmes.

The governor also called on council officials to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said local governments remained central to national development because of their direct connection with the people, stressing that the success of government policies depended largely on their implementation and impact at the community level.

Uzodimma noted that public confidence in government could be strengthened through functional healthcare facilities, accessible roads, improved markets, agricultural development and responsive local administration.

Governor Seeks Stronger State-Local Government Cooperation

The governor called for stronger cooperation between state and local governments, urging governors to support council chairmen and council chairmen to work closely with their councillors in advancing development.

He cautioned against abandoning inherited projects for political reasons, noting that public resources already committed to ongoing projects should be protected and investments sustained for the benefit of communities.

Uzodimma further urged local government authorities to prioritise financial accountability, flood preparedness, sanitation, security, youth empowerment and the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in governance.

He said the forthcoming elections would test the ability of political leaders to earn public trust through performance.

The governor also urged APC members to resolve internal disputes and channel their energies towards communicating government policies and achievements to the people.

ALGON Reaffirms Support for Tinubu, Governors

Earlier, the National President of ALGON, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu and state governors, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Lawal emphasised the importance of local government administration as the closest tier of government to the people, noting that effective grassroots governance was essential to translating government policies into tangible benefits for communities.

He said the ALGON General Assembly provided an important platform for council leaders to exchange ideas, address common challenges, strengthen institutional capacity and develop strategies for improved service delivery.

The ALGON president assured the President and governors of the association’s continued cooperation, stressing that stronger local government institutions would contribute to national development, community security and democratic stability.