News
Reps Committee, ALGON Hold Retreat for 774 Chairmen
…pledge stronger local government system
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation, in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has organised a national retreat and workshop for local government chairmen from across the country.
The gathering, which focused on strengthening local government administration, also discussed the vertical revenue allocation formula for Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
In his keynote address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajuddeen Abbas, said the retreat was designed to help close the governance gap and bring enlightenment to people at the grassroots.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
The Speaker, represented by Rep. Emmanuel Agbodike, emphasised the crucial role of local government chairmen in driving development at the community level.
“The relationship between local government chairmen shared with governors is very important for the smooth running of government at the lower level.
“I implore you to live up to your responsibilities, I encourage you, for those of you that are doing very well because the success this administration will achieve cannot be achieved without the support of the local government administration, because you are at the grassroot”, Abbas said.
Participants at the just-concluded retreat on local government administration have been urged to remain committed to strengthening governance at the grassroots.
Chairman of the House Committee on Delegated Legislation, Mr Richard Bamishile, explained that the retreat and workshop were part of the House’s resolution to review and reinforce laws guiding local government administration in Nigeria.
He said the exercise would “foster accountability and improve the structure of local government administration,” adding that legislative measures were already being considered to promote better unity among all tiers of government.
In his remarks, the National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Bello Lawal, reaffirmed the association’s determination to push for greater empowerment of councils across the country.
“ALGON will not relent until local governments are fairly empowered with the resources needed to meet the expectations of the people, in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Equally critical is our deliberation on the Vertical Revenue Allocation Formula. This call by the Revenue Mobiization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) provides us a rare opportunity to ensure that Local Governments being the closest tier to the people have a direct and impactful voice in the national fiscal architecture.
“I am convinced that the outcomes of this retreat will strengthen intergovernmental relations, deepen legislative harmony and expand the fiscal space for grassroots governance. Together, we shall move closer to the Nigeria of our dreams where every community enjoys basic services, every child has access to quality education, healthcare and food security chain”, he said.
The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Bitrus Jisalo, has called on local governments to play a more active role in shaping the future of grassroots governance.
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Mr Onwusoro Ihemelandu, the Minister stressed the importance of strengthening the capacity of councils to deliver effectively on their mandate.
The retreat, themed “Enhancing the Legislative Capacity of Local Government Councils: Review of the Vertical Revenue Allocation Formula with Active Participation and Input from the 774 Local Government Councils”, brought together officials from across all 774 local government areas in the country, alongside other stakeholders.
The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has taken delivery of five new helicopters as the Federal Government steps up efforts to modernise the country’s airpower capabilities and strengthen military operations against security threats.
The platforms comprise three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy and two H-125 helicopters manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, the NAF said the three AW-109s, which are part of 10 recently acquired by the Federal Government, were received in Lagos on September 15, 2026, while the remaining seven are expected to be delivered before the end of the year. The two H-125 helicopters had been delivered earlier.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the new helicopters would increase aircraft availability and improve the NAF’s ability to support ongoing military operations.
“The arrival of these five helicopters provides greater flexibility in the employment of airpower in support of ground troops in ongoing operations,” Aneke said.
He said the AW-109 Trekker B helicopters would enhance the NAF’s capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, armed escort, combat search and rescue, and other joint operations.
Aneke added that the H-125 helicopters would provide light helicopter support for various operational requirements.
The new platforms are undergoing post-delivery assembly and technical and crew-readiness processes ahead of their induction and operationalisation.
Aneke said the increased rotary-wing capacity would strengthen support for joint forces conducting operations against terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.
He said the NAF would also prioritise maintenance and logistics support to ensure the new aircraft remain available for operations.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office, declaring that there will be “no vacancy” in the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the next four or five years.
Oba Akiolu gave the support when the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, led members of the council on a courtesy visit to his palace in Lagos on Monday.
The monarch urged politicians to approach the 2027 General Elections with responsibility and ensure that the electoral process is peaceful and serves the interests of Nigerians.
Oba Akiolu cautioned members of the campaign council against actions capable of undermining the peace and stability of the country, even as he urged them to uphold honesty and shun the Machiavellian principle that the end justifies the means.
Speaking, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Yari, said the delegation was in Lagos to seek the monarch’s blessings, prayers and counsel as the council begins its nationwide campaign activities ahead of the 2027 polls.
Yari said the APC believed President Tinubu deserved a second term to consolidate his administration’s efforts in the areas of the economy, security and infrastructure.
The Campaign D-G, while acknowledging the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, appealed for continued support for the president, saying APC leaders from the North would work to secure strong backing for Tinubu’s re-election across the region.
Receiving the delegation, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the visit as significant, noting that the council had made the Oba’s palace one of its early stops following its engagement with the Sokoto Caliphate.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the visit underscored Lagos’ strategic importance to Nigeria’s political process, describing the state as the country’s commercial and economic nerve centre as well as a major political hub.
The visit was attended by Lagos APC leaders, local government chairmen, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers and other party stakeholders.
Former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Alhaji Mohammed Mani, has been endorsed as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Niger state
Alhaji Mani replaces Abubakar Sulaiman, who was elected at the PDP primary last May.
Sulaiman voluntarily withdrawn from the position in the interest of the peace unity and progress of the party.
The endorsement of the former FIRS boss for the governorship contest was made by PDP stakeholders from across the state at the state party secretariat.
Addressing the stakeholders, Alhaji Mani promised to deliver the state to the PDP in next year’s election and solicited the support of party faithful for the realisation of the objective.
The new PDP candidate had earlier contested for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress(APC) which Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago got by “ consensus.”
He was among the APC aspirants who lost in the primary election and recently defected to the PDP.
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