The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, on Thursday, 15th October, 2026, reunited the 774 Local Government Areas and Area Councils in a historic General Assembly in Abuja, presided over by its National President, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, with Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, backing reforms for grassroots governance.
The Assembly, which is the supreme and highest decision-making organ of ALGON, was convened in strict compliance with the provisions of the ALGON Constitution.
Presiding over the meeting alongside the National Executive Council, Hon. Bello Lawal welcomed delegates and expressed profound appreciation for their commitment to strengthening local administration in Nigeria.
He noted that the unprecedented attendance underscores that ALGON remains one progressive, indivisible umbrella body of the 774 Local Government Areas and Area Councils.
The National President extended special recognition to four former National Presidents of the Association — Hon. Ibrahim Jalo Dasuki, Hon. Felix Akabue, ALGON Emeritus Hon. Alabi Kolade David and immediate past President Hon. Aminu Muazu Maifata, represented by the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN.
Also recognised were the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Hon. Odunayo Ategbero and BoT members representing the geopolitical zones, members of the National Executive Council, National Executives, the 36 States and FCT ALGON Chairmen, three Local Government Chairmen drawn from each of the 36 States and the FCT, national leadership and coordinators of the Vice Chairmen Forum, national leadership and leaders of the Councillors Forum, ALGON Consultants and partners including Lead Consultant Senator Dr. Alphonsus Ubanesse, Hon. Shehu Marshal Jega, Chief of Staff to the National President, Special Assistants to the National President including Hon. Bala Usman Chamo, Hajiya Binta Bello, former Director General and serving Director General of NAPTIP, ALGON Director General Barr. Evan Enekwe, civil society organisations, development partners and members of the media.
Under President Bello Lawal’s leadership, the Assembly considered and adopted Council reports, including projects, programmes and activities executed since the last General Assembly held in March 2021 to date.
It deliberated on factors inhibiting effective functionality of the Association and resolved to align its operations with contemporary governance realities, including noting vacancies created in the Board of Trustees as a result of demise of some members and resolving to reconstitute the Board in line with constitutional provisions.
The Assembly emphasized the imperative for Local Governments, as the third tier and the only government at the bottom of the pyramid, to build institutional capacity to reclaim its rightful place in the national governance architecture, and to strengthen administrative efficiency at the National Headquarters by rebranding the designation of the administrative head from Secretary General to Director General.
In accordance with its constitutional mandate, the Assembly considered and approved Annual Budgets of the Association before implementation, adopted reports of Principal Officers and considered other matters of strategic interest.
It placed on record that the National Executive Council, which by the Constitution is charged with management of the Association, had through the Secretariat prepared and presented annual financial statements and budget for consideration, including recommendations on standing orders and rules of procedure.
On Finance and Planning, President Bello Lawal explained that the internal organ representing the 774 Local Government Chairmen, Councillors and Area Councils through their 36 State representatives and the FCT, who constitute authentic members of the NEC, had in past months met severally to distil and interrogate provisions of the Constitution inhibiting effective functionality.
Motions for amendment of those provisions were presented to the General Assembly. Members were fully aware of and had taken ownership of the need for such amendments, and the amendments were accordingly carried by a resolution passed by an absolute majority of members of the General Assembly and therefore stand authentic, not by simple majority.
The high point of the Assembly was the presence of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor of Imo State and Secretary of the APC Campaign Council, accompanied by the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
Governor Uzodimma expressed appreciation to organisers and reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to grassroots governance, stressing that effective Local Government Administration remains the fulcrum for translating policy into tangible democratic dividends.
He underscored that the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is deliberately designed to cascade to the third tier and pledged unflinching support of Mr. President to issues affecting Local Governments, particularly with respect to autonomy, institutional strengthening and fiscal viability.
The Association, through President Bello Lawal, expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through Governor Uzodimma, for his progressive disposition and unwavering commitment towards repositioning the local government system, pledging to align its reforms and actions towards operationalizing the Renewed Hope vision across the 774 Local Government Areas and Area Councils.
In his remarks, the Deputy National President of ALGON, Hon. Ikenna Adikibe, who is also Chairman of the Constitution Amendments Planning Committee and Chairman of the General Assembly Planning Committee, Executive Chairman of Oru Local Government Area and ALGON Chairman, Imo State, thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma for his exemplary leadership and described him as a grassroots man who has continued to balance his leadership role with passion for last-mile success, noting that his visit marks a turning point.
The Assembly also noted presence of Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, erstwhile promoter of a factional ALGON, whose attendance validates the end of his years as a renegade to the Association which had promoted wrong perception of a disunited ALGON.
The General Assembly under National President Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal reaffirmed its collective commitment to strengthening the local government system, deepening grassroots governance and delivering service to the people.