Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for renewed commitment to strengthening local government administration in Nigeria, describing it as the most critical tier of government for delivering democratic dividends at the grassroots.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day National Summit on Local Government Administration organised by the Association of Local Government Service Commissions in Nigeria (ALGSC) on Wednesday in Abuja, Governor Aiyedatiwa said effective local governance remained key to national development.
Represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, the governor said the local government system must be empowered to function effectively in order to deliver good governance to citizens. “The local government, being the closest to the people, must be strengthened to perform its constitutional roles effectively,” he said.
He commended the association for recognising Ondo State’s contributions to grassroots development and described his administration’s policies as people-centred. Aiyedatiwa also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising the importance of local government autonomy and initiating reforms aimed at improving governance.
“President Tinubu’s reform initiatives have repositioned the country on the path of progress,” he said. “We must all support his administration to achieve greater results for Nigerians.”
Reacting to his recognition as Icon of Good Governance by the association, Aiyedatiwa said the honour would motivate him to intensify support for institutions that strengthen administration at the local level.
Highlighting some of his administration’s interventions, the governor noted that Ondo State had elevated Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) to salary grade level 17 and ensured regular promotions for council workers. “We have also improved funding to critical institutions such as the Local Government Service Commission, the Pension Transitional Department, and the Staff Loans Board,” he added.
He further disclosed that his government had embarked on the expansion of rural road networks across the three senatorial districts, alongside the construction of a new secretariat complex for the Local Government Service Commission.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration’s investments extended to healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, and industrialisation, reflecting a holistic approach to grassroots development.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa, called for greater coordination between the federal and state governments to achieve an effective local governance framework. “The Federal Government may need to make concessions to state governments as stakeholders in local governance,” he said, “but such partnerships must operate within constitutional safeguards that preserve local government autonomy.”
National Chairman of Local Government Service Commissions, Hon. Femi Idris, in his welcome remarks, commended President Tinubu’s ongoing reforms and appealed for increased federal attention to local government institutions to enable them to deliver on their mandates.
The summit, which continues in Abuja, featured paper presentations and award recognitions for governors of Ondo, Kano, Ebonyi, and Borno states for their contributions to strengthening local government administration in Nigeria.
