President Bola Tinubu has charged local government councils across Nigeria with prioritizing food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, job creation, and support for local enterprises. This is part of efforts to make his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda felt at the grassroots. Tinubu gave the charge in a speech delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the National Conference for Chairmen of the 774 Local Government Councils and Chairmen of Traditional Rulers' Councils in Nigeria in Abuja.
The conference, which began on Tuesday and will run until Thursday, has the theme "Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots." Tinubu emphasized that the success of government policies should be measured by their impact on communities rather than by announcements made in Abuja. He urged local government chairmen to ensure that Nigerians experience improvements in primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, access to safe water, food production, support for small businesses, and opportunities for women and young people.
Tinubu said local government autonomy is not an end in itself but an instrument for service and development. He noted that the financial autonomy granted local governments by the Supreme Court has placed a greater responsibility on elected council officials to deliver effective and measurable governance. The President said council chairmen have the advantage of knowing the specific needs of their communities, including areas where clinics lack medicines, farmers require support, and young people need opportunities.
Tinubu urged councils to adopt evidence-based decision-making, technology, and reliable statistics in planning and implementing development projects. He said local governments must become "centres of planning, delivery, early warning, and measurable results" rather than remain passive recipients of Federal Government initiatives. The President emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda must become visible in communities through food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, jobs, and local enterprise.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. Onwosoro Maduka Ihemelandu, said the ministry is developing stronger mechanisms to monitor development projects and interventions at the local government level. Ihemelandu said the ministry plans to strengthen its electronic tracking system to improve project visibility, monitoring, and accountability across the 704 local government areas.
Ihemelandu said the proposed E-Tracking methodology will capture project locations, distribution, and sectors, implementing authorities and contractors, project values, implementation timelines, fiscal progress, field evidence, risks, challenges, and required actions. The system will improve the visibility of projects and interventions, strengthen evidence-based monitoring and verification, and provide timely information for management decisions.
The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, said local governments and traditional rulers have critical roles to play in translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible development at the grassroots. Jisalo said the conference aims to strengthen collaboration among the Federal, state, and local governments, with traditional rulers serving as important partners.
Key points
- President Tinubu tasks local councils to prioritize food security, healthcare, and job creation.
- Local governments must adopt evidence-based decision-making and technology to improve service delivery.
- The Federal Government plans to implement an electronic tracking system to monitor projects and interventions at the local government level.
