The Forum of Heads of Local Government Administration in Nigeria (FOHOLGAN) has called for the full implementation of financial autonomy for local government areas in the country.

FOHOLGAN’s national president, Abdulrahman Marafa, made the call at the organisation’s Fifth Annual/Delegate Conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The conference is themed: “Sustaining Professionalism in Local Government Administration in Nigeria.”

Mr Marafa expressed frustration that local government autonomy was being politicised, in spite of the Supreme Court’s judgment granting them financial autonomy.

He emphasised that direct funding for local governments was constitutional and should not be hindered by politics.

Mr Marafa argued that the three tiers of government, federal, state, and local, should be respected and allowed to function independently.

He noted that local governments were being strangulated by state governments, which was why they needed financial autonomy.

The Forum’s president expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying the Supreme Court’s judgement on local government autonomy should be respected.

He emphasised that financially buoyant local governments could deliver better services to the grassroots.

Mr Marafa dismissed allegations of misappropriation of funds by local governments, saying they were baseless and lacked evidence.

He said that many local governments were executing developmental projects worth millions of naira.

The president appreciated the support of members throughout his three-year tenure.

He highlighted the achievements of his administration, which he said included establishing strong synergies with other organisations, increasing state bar membership and attendance at conferences.

Mr Marafa emphasised the importance of teamwork and appreciated the support of his executives and members.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by the forum, while noting that not all initiatives were successfully implemented.

The forum president urged the incoming executives to be committed to the mission and vision of the forum.

He expressed gratitude to members for their trust and support and wished them well.

Osun commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Dosu Babatunde, underscored the need for state governments to prioritise the implementation of local government autonomy.

According to him, by doing so, local governments can become more effective in delivering services and improving the lives of people at the grassroots level.

Mr Babatunde decried the delay in the release of funds to local governments since February, in spite of the Supreme Court’s judgement.

He expressed concern that many states were not complying with the judgement, which he said was hindering local government development.

The commissioner stressed that local governments are closest to the people and should be enabled to improve the lives of those at the grassroots.

According to him, by implementing the judgement, state governments can empower local governments to deliver essential services and drive development in their areas.

The event also featured the recognition of outstanding individuals through awards and the election of new officials for the forum.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, Christopher Maikalangu, the chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), expressed gratitude to the organisers and acknowledged the dedication of local government officials.

Mr Maikalangu, represented by the council’s vice chairman, Nasir Umar, said the award was not surprising, given the hard work and commitment of his team.

He highlighted his team’s achievements, citing massive projects in various communities, including roads, schools, and other infrastructure.

The council boss attributed his success to the grace of God and thanked those who supported him.

He appealed to the audience to support the progress of the country and their local governments, adding that with collective effort, things would get better soon.

The conference attracted key stakeholders and technocrats from the 774 local government administrations across the country to discuss ways to enhance professionalism in the system.

(NAN)