The Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Lawal Dare, Gamji Gusau, has congratulated Hon. Abubakar U. Abdullahi, the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on his selection as the newly elected Interim Management Committee National Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
According to the Governor, the local government, as the third tier of government in any clime across the world, requires focused and ingenious individuals to steer its affairs to be able to achieve the desired goals in the delivery of dividends of democracy at the grassroots level.
“But in our climate, part of the main challenges facing local government affairs in some quarters today is certainly a lack of capacity and ability on the part of most elected Council Chairmen to create and generate sustainable sources of revenue for development, as well as an overdependence on FAAC”. He noted
The new Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Lawal Dare, Gamji Gusau, who disclosed this in a personally signed congratulatory message, said the emergence of Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi as the new leader of ALGON in Nigeria is clear evidence of a new dawn for a visionary and purposeful leadership that will help carve a niche for progress and development in the association.
He, however, advised the new ALGON National Chairman to work closely with the federal and state governments in order to ensure a smooth and cordial relationship that will engender growth, development, and avenues for revenue and wealth creation.
While stating that the independence of the local government is important for revenue generation and control, he advised LG chairmen across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT,Abuja, to look inward and avoid overdependence on monthly allocations from the federal government.
“As a governor, I am ready to give all the necessary support needed to make our local government areas in Zamfara more viable and business-driven in the shortest period of time.
Governor Dare further pointed out, “The essence of creating local governments as a third tier of government is to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots, and this is sacrosanct”.
Meanwhile, he enjoined all the members of ALGON to support Hon. Abdullahi while his tenure lasts.
