When Tinubu, Omidiran, PGF tasked 774 LG Chairmen on inclusive governance

By Jude Opara

Local government administration in Nigeria may be heading to a glorious era following the efforts of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) to organize a two-day workshop for administrators from the 774 local government administrators across the country.

At the event, President Bola Tinubu charged the 744 Local Government Chairmen and other administrators to always translate the principles of federal character into practical, inclusive and equitable governance at the grassroots, stressing that the effectiveness of national governance is ultimately measured by its impact on citizens at the community level.

The President gave the advise on Monday in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the FCC workshop for Local Government Chairmen, organised in Abuja, in collaboration with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

The two-day workshop, with the theme; “Translating Federal Character Principles into Local Governance: Bridging Policy and Practice,” brought together chairmen of the 774 Local Government Areas, government officials, security agencies and other stakeholders to deepen the implementation of federal character, inclusive governance and grassroots development.

Tinubu who pledged that no Nigerian citizen would be denied on the basis of race or religion also argued that Nigeria’s diversity remained one of its greatest assets, stressing that the country’s multiplicity of cultures, ethnicities and beliefs must be managed through fairness, justice and inclusion.

According to the President, Local Government Councils occupy a strategic position in Nigeria’s governance architecture because they constitute the closest interface between citizens and the state.

“Policies, no matter how well-crafted, achieve little unless they are effectively translated into action where it matters most, the grassroots.

“You must rise above sectional interests and embrace a broader national perspective that prioritises unity over division and inclusiveness over exclusion,” the President said.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the connection between federal character, grassroots governance and national integration.

Omidiran described the gathering as a timely intervention aimed at reinforcing the foundations of unity, fairness, inclusion and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria.

“Our ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversities are not obstacles to nationhood; rather, they are valuable strengths capable of driving national growth when managed with equity, justice, and sincerity of purpose,” she said.

The FCC Chairman said Local Governments were uniquely positioned to manage diversity within communities through equitable distribution of opportunities, fair representation, inclusive leadership and meaningful engagement with citizens.

“The future of Nigeria depends greatly on our collective willingness to promote justice above prejudice, unity above division, and national interest above personal or sectional considerations,” Omidiran said.

In his contribution, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, commended the FCC for partnering with the PGF on the initiative which he described as laudable.

Uzodimma who was represented by the Director-General of the Forum, Folorunso Aluko, described Local Government as the point where citizens encounter government most directly, noting that functioning primary healthcare centres, accessible community roads, improved sanitation and support for vulnerable citizens were tangible manifestations of government.

“When a primary healthcare centre functions, a community road becomes passable, sanitation improves or vulnerable citizens receive support, government ceases to be an abstract institution, it becomes a living source of dignity, confidence and hope”.

However the PGF boss reminded the Council Chairmen to always remember that authority must go with responsibility, hence the need for them to remain prudent and comply with the principles of federal character in all their actions.

“Autonomy must always travel with responsibility. Greater authority must produce higher standards of transparent budgeting, prudent financial management, merit-based appointments, procurement integrity, audit compliance and meaningful citizen engagement.

“Local Government Chairmen are not merely administrators of councils; you are custodians of public trust and frontline builders of the Nigerian federation,” Aluko said.

Similarly, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), called for a stronger partnership between Local Governments, communities, traditional and religious institutions, security agencies and the private sector to strengthen security at the grassroots.

Musa who was speaking on the topic; “Strengthening Grassroots Security through Inclusive Local Leadership, Community Partnership and Inter-Agency Collaboration,” said insecurity was experienced most directly at the community level, making local knowledge indispensable to effective prevention and early intervention.

“If we are serious about preventing insecurity rather than simply responding to it after it occurs, then the knowledge and experience of those closest to the people must become an integral part of our security effort,” he said.

He equally backed the proposal for the establishment of Local Government Security Coordination Committees across the 774 Local Government Areas, but stressed that the initiative would only succeed if the committees were functional rather than merely another layer of bureaucracy.

“The objective should be clear, to strengthen the connection between our communities and the security architecture of the country, improve early warning and, where possible, prevent incidents before they escalate,” Musa said.

“When we secure a farming community, we are protecting livelihoods and food production. When we secure a business district, we are protecting investment and employment,” he said.

“The objective is not to create parallel security structures, but to improve coordination, strengthen existing institutions and ensure that every stakeholder contributes effectively within his or her area of responsibility,” Musa said.

Also speaking at the workshop, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said federal character must be understood not merely as a formula for appointments, but as a principle of belonging, fairness and inclusion.

In his goodwill message at the workshop, Issa-Onilu said the central question of nation-building was how to make every Nigerian, regardless of origin or location, feel that Nigeria belonged to them.

He linked the workshop to the work of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Values Charter, saying national unity could only be sustained when citizens experienced fairness, justice, inclusion and opportunity alongside their responsibilities to the nation.

“Federal Character must therefore be understood as more than a formula for appointments. At its heart, it is a principle of belonging.

“When development is equitable, we are not merely distributing infrastructure; we are distributing belonging. When opportunities are fairly shared, we are not simply fulfilling constitutional requirements; we are strengthening citizens’ confidence in Nigeria,” he said,” the NOA Director-General said.

The two-day workshop which is expected to equip the 774 Local Government Chairmen and other participating administrators with practical knowledge on applying federal character principles to governance, appointments, planning, resource allocation and development, while also strengthening community security, citizen engagement and inter-agency collaboration.

It is expected that this workshop will further enhance the local government administration as the tier of government that is closest to the people.