The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has called for the adoption of a unified four-year tenure for elected local government officials in the country.
ALGON National President Aminu Muazu-Maifata made the call in an interview with journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Muazu-Maifata said the move would ensure good governance and quality representation at the grassroots level.
The president urged the National Assembly to urgently amend the nation’s constitution to unify the tenure of local government officials across the country.
He said: “The tenure of local government officials should be extended for four years to enable us to deliver on our campaign promises to the electorate.
”It is unfortunate that the tenure of local government officials in some states is even one or two years.
”So, I wonder how these officials will deliver good governance within such a short period.”
On the N62,000 minimum wage proposed by the federal government, the ALGON boss called on the government to increase the monthly allocations of the 774 LGAs in the country.
He stated that the move would enable the councils to pay the new minimum wage when signed into law.
Muazu-Maifata, who is the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, however, lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for granting autonomia to all the LGAs in the state.
He called on other governors to emulate Sule towards the overall development of the country, particularly the grassroots.
On the security in Lafia, the chairman said: “We restricted the movement of motorcycles between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and tricycles between 8pm and 6am
“This is because security reports has it that criminal gangs are using these two means of transportation to perpetrate crimes and operate between the restricted hours.”
Muazu-Maifata, however, noted that the security situation in Lafia had improved, adding that strategies would be adopted towards the safety of life and property.
