The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has said that having a virile local governments system is key to the sustenance of democracy.
ALGON National President, Mr. Kolade Alabi, stated this in his Democracy Day message issued in Abuja on Saturday.
Alabi in the statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Obiora Orji, said that democracy had become the legitimate demand of all local communities in Nigeria, in spite of recent agitations across the country.
He said this was established from the feelers gathered through the just concluded zonal public hearing by the association.
“Today most of the countries of the world are in the process of implementing political and administrative reforms aimed at decentralizing and strengthening their local governance.
“We all know that democracy is not an event but a complex and continuous process and that is why we must sincerely continue to advocate strong local governments/councils.
“Indeed, this June 12, therefore, makes it essential that we collectively weight the gains and losses if we can honestly develop our potential and resources for growth.
Alabi noted that sustainable development in both strong and in weak economies could only be rescued if local government was empowered to play its role.
He said such could be achieved if local government was accorded its role based on recognized principles of participation and transparency in a manner that conformed to basic human rights.
The ALGON national president added that lack of uniformity in the tenure of local government had not also allowed responsive local government operations in the country.
Alabi also stressed the need to redress constitutional boundaries established decades ago, saying they were presently hurting the system.
The statement also quoted the ALGON Deputy National President, Mr. Shehu Jega, in his democracy message saying Nigeria needs strong systems at the councils to strongly resist hunger, unemployment, disease, de-escalate unrest and banditry.
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Jega added that effective local government system would promote rural governance through industrialization, development partnership, promote peace and ensure the enabling environment for ease of doing business.
He explained that it would also guarantee security through community policing, vigilantes, make education work, promote functional local/magistrate courts for prompt administration of criminal justice and jurisprudence.
“It will also promote peace through youth engagement, provide quality learning and teachers for foundational impact, widen civic engagement, expand advocacy for law enforcement,” Jega added.
