By Chidi Ugwu, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) may be nearing resolution, following a high-level engagement between the association and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Acting National President of ALGON, Hon. Iliyasu Zakari, said the association has taken decisive steps to restore order, anchored on adherence to the rule of law and recent court pronouncements.
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Zakari, who also chairs Agwara Local Government Council in Niger State, explained that the crisis stemmed from what he described as an irregular emergence of a former ALGON president, which triggered prolonged internal disputes within the body.
According to him, the association’s Board of Trustees (BoT) intervened by seeking legal redress, resulting in a court judgment that validated a new leadership structure.
“The issue was simply about non-compliance with the rule of law. The BoT went to court, and we now have a judgment affirming the current structure. We have all the necessary documents, including incorporation certificates and other legal backing,” he said.
He added that the BoT has since inaugurated an interim leadership to stabilise the association, pending further decisions.
Zakari noted that the meeting with the Governors’ Forum was strategic, describing state governors as critical stakeholders in grassroots governance.
“As local governments, the Governors’ Forum remains our primary point of engagement. That is why, after the inauguration, it was important to come here first,” he said.
On the outcome of the meeting, the ALGON leader described discussions as productive, adding that further engagements with the Forum’s Director-General were ongoing to consolidate agreements reached.
While declining to give a specific timeline, Zakari hinted at the possibility of fresh elections to produce a substantive national leadership for the association.
“It is possible. There is nothing stopping that. But I cannot commit to a timeframe now. It will happen in no distant time,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the lingering crisis within ALGON would soon be fully resolved, stressing that current efforts are guided by legality and institutional processes.
On the broader issue of local government autonomy, Zakari acknowledged ongoing challenges but described reforms as gradual and evolving.
“Autonomy is a work in progress. Local governments have begun opening accounts with the Central Bank, and we believe that, over time, these reforms will strengthen governance at the grassroots,” he said.
He, however, admitted concerns over what he termed the diminishing influence of local governments, assuring that ALGON would continue to advocate for reforms aimed at restoring their relevance and financial independence.
The meeting comes amid renewed national conversations on local government autonomy and the role of subnational actors in deepening governance and service delivery at the grassroots level.
