President Bola Tinubu has criticised the inadequate implementation of democracy at the local level and urged state governors to give local community demands top priority.
Tinubu also discussed out-of-school youth, security, and the economy during his Thursday conversation with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, or ACF, in the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The President said the ACF leadership should step in and urge governors to provide the demands of residents in the councils immediate attention, pointing out that grassroots efforts receive the majority of votes in elections.
President Bola Tinubu Returns to Nigeria from Foreign Trips
Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngalale, said: “We are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country. They must equally be sympathetic and urgently consider the needs of the local people.
“People reside in the local communities. That is where they work, farm, and live. If the local governments are not effective in delivering services; as leaders, we must not hang on to the numbers. We have 774 local government areas, but are they truly effective? Do they solve problems for Nigerians? Do they coordinate development programming with the state and federal governments?
“Who is being held accountable for the performance of the 774 local governments? Maybe we should look at recalibrating. What was good four years ago may not be good today. When we want the votes, we go to the locals; when we get the votes, we move to and focus on Abuja.”
The President emphasised the need of education in fostering national identity and deemed the state of unschooled children in some regions of Nigeria intolerable.
Supreme Court Registrar Earns 66.7% Higher Than CJN – Retired Justice, Dattijo
On security, President Tinubu commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his efforts, saying: “Everybody wants to be secure, and we need to invest more in technology. We will do it, I promise you. We will put our heart and soul into ensuring that Nigeria is secure and its citizens are protected.”
During the event, Tinubu also made a call for maintaining support for his government and for national unity as it works to address issues facing the general public.
He ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the matters brought up at the meeting, and he designated Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to head the investigation.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.