Chairmen of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Oyo State have resolved to dissociate from the nationwide umbrella body, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and form their own umbrella association.
As contained in a communiqué signed by the ALGON Oyo Public Relations Officer, Mr Ibrahim Akintayo, the council bosses reached this resolution to operate under a new association at a meeting held on Saturday, in Ibadan.
The Oyo LG chairmen held that the new association of local government chairmen shall better protect the interest of and guarantee real development for people at the grassroots.
The communiqué held that the chairmen would activate moves to ensure that the new association is legal, institutional and set it up in line with constitutional provisions.
This resolution comes in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government areas.
The communiqué read: “At the general meeting of all the local government councils of Oyo State, held on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, at Ibadan, it was voluntarily agreed and resolved as follows: That in order to inter alia protect the interest of our people, we should forthwith form an umbrella association.
“Such organization will be registered under the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its membership shall be institutional-represented by the chairmen of respective local government councils.
“That the association shall remain committed to the democratic ideas of the system of local government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Furthermore, the association shall ensure the delivery of real development in local councils in the overall interest of our people at the local level.”
When our correspondent reached out to the Vice Chairmen, ALGON Oyo State, Honourable Olayanju Kazeem, he confirmed the resolutions of the local government chairmen to form their own association.
He added that the chairmen at the meeting, in deciding to form a new umbrella association, also declared their 100 percent support for the state governor, Seyi Makinde.
Olayanju said: “Yes it is the resolution of the 33 local government chairmen.
“It is authentic that we are forming our own association and we are solidly behind the governor, 100 percent. All elected local government chairmen in Oyo state unanimously declared their unalloyed support for the executive governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
“What we have decided is just like the formation of the Park Management System (PMS) which was formed aside from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Once we form our association, we cannot be All Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). When it is formed, that means we are no more part of ALGON.”
Asked whether the resolution to form another association was connected to the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government areas, Olayanju responded: “My brother, I cannot say more than this.”
Asked if the chairmen have commenced moves, including legal, towards the naming and formation of the association, Olayanju again said: “My brother, I cannot say more than what I have said.”
