The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has reaffirmed its commitments to advancing good governance in local government councils through a renewed partnership with the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE).
This collaboration, the association said seeks to build the capacity of the 774 local government councils officers and area Councils across the entire axis of Taraba country.
At a closed-door meeting in Abuja, ALGON National President, Engineer Bello Lawal Yandaki, highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, and sustainable fiscal practices in local governance.
He commended PACE for initiating a programme focused on budgeting, an area that has been a persistent challenge for local governments.
The session centered on institutional assessments and the local governance toolkit, which is part of PACE’s governance programme funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (UKFCDO).
Yandaki also noted ALGON’s extensive collaborations with organizations dedicated to improving LGA leadership through training, budgeting, and auditing initiatives.
In his goodwill message, Yandaki expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support of local governments and their administrative systems.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), represented by Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab, as well as Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, the Director-General of the Budget Office, represented by Dr. Ado Mohammed, and the Judiciary for their contributions to the event.
Yandaki emphasized that the meeting’s framework and budgeting process would provide a clear path for LGA officers, helping them avoid common pitfalls and ensuring transparent governance to deliver quality services to citizens.
He reiterated the core objective of the programme: to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable fiscal quality assurance in local government administration.
The meeting, as noticed by WorldClass247News, was attended by senior local government leaders, EXCO members, and representatives from PACE, the Nigeria Governors Forum, and the Budget Office.
Notable attendees included Moses Nomeh (Ebonyi), Shehu Jega Marshall (Kebbi), Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan (Taraba), Ilyiasu Zakari (Niger), and others.
ALGON’s management team, including Acting Director-General Barr. Mrs. Evan Enekwe, Nuhu Salawu Ozigi, FCA, Lawal Ibrahim, and Chief Venatus Okafor, also participated in the discussions.
All stakeholders emphasized the need to localize the programme to ensure its success in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable fiscal practices in local government administration.