President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday charged the chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to leverage their financial autonomy to deliver measurable, tangible development directly to citizens at the grassroots level.
​The charge was delivered on behalf of the President by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who represented him at the opening of the maiden Annual National Conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
The three-day event, running from September 22 to 24, 2026, is themed “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots”. ​Addressing council chairmen, elected councillors, and management teams, President Tinubu emphasised that local government financial autonomy, affirmed by the landmark Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, is an instrument for service delivery rather than an end in itself.
He asserted that governance only gains meaning when its impact improves the daily lives of citizens. ​”Building on that experience, my administration has since 2023 pursued national development with a strengthened belief that Nigeria cannot develop from the centre alone,” President Tinubu stated.
“Development must take root from the bottom up. Nigerians in all parts of the country must witness and experience better primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, safe water, stronger food systems, support for small businesses, and opportunities for women and young people.” ​
Recalling his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where his administration established 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to bring government closer to the people, the President urged council bosses to transition from being passive recipients of federal initiatives to active drivers of planning, coordination, technology-driven statistics, and service delivery.
​Touching on local security and preparations for the 2027 general elections, President Tinubu warned council leaders against letting their localities become breeding grounds for political violence or thuggery. He urged them to douse political tensions, engage traditional and religious leaders, maintain zero tolerance for hate speech, and shield young people from electoral violence and substance abuse.
​In his opening remarks, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, stated that the ultimate success of national policies rests on execution at the grassroots tier. He reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to facilitating intergovernmental collaboration and ensuring federal interventions effectively reach local beneficiaries.
​The conference will conclude on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with actionable policy recommendations to eliminate structural bottlenecks hindering local council performance across the country.
