The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has called for the establishment of a unified four-year tenure for elected local government officials nationwide. ALGON’s National President, Aminu Maifata, made this appeal during an interview with journalists on Monday in Lafia.
Advertorial
Maifata argued that a standardized four-year term would enhance governance and ensure quality representation at the grassroots level.
He urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution to reflect this change, emphasizing the need for consistency across all states.
“The tenure of local government officials should be standardized to four years to allow us to fulfill our campaign promises to the electorate,” Maifata stated.
Advertorial
“It’s unfortunate that in some states, local government officials serve only one or two-year terms. Such short periods make it challenging to deliver effective governance.”
Regarding the proposed N62,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, Maifata called for an increase in the monthly allocations to the 774 local government areas.
He stressed that this adjustment is necessary for councils to afford the new minimum wage once it becomes law.
Maifata, who also serves as the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, praised Governor Abdullahi Sule for granting autonomy to the local councils.
He urged other governors to follow Sule’s example to promote development, particularly at the grassroots level.
Discussing security measures in Lafia, Maifata explained the partial curfew imposed to curb the rising incidents of kidnapping and other crimes in the state capital.
He noted that the movement of motorcycles is restricted between 6 PM and 6 AM, and tricycles between 8 PM and 6 AM, based on security reports indicating that criminal gangs use these vehicles to commit crimes during the restricted hours.
“The security situation in Lafia has improved significantly,” Maifata reported.
“We will continue to adopt better strategies to ensure the safety of lives and property.”
Maifata concluded by affirming ALGON’s commitment to advocating for policies that support good governance and development at the local government level.
