The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has commended the Supreme Court for the landmark judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government councils in the country.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday at the end of the 48th National Executive Council meeting of the association which was held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The communique was jointly signed by Sani Haruna and Emiola Gazal, the ALGON chairmen in Gombe and Ogun State respectively.

According to the communique, the members of ALGON expressed their readiness to embark on meaningful projects in their respective LGAs that would have positive impacts on the lives of their people.

During the three-day gathering in Lafia, the ALGON NEC expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the judiciary for the respective roles they played in ensuring that LGs function properly as enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.

The communique reads in part: “It is important to say that the Local Government Councils have the capacity to address issues of insecurity (in collaboration with state governments) and address all its responsibilities like the primary health care, basic education, water, rural development and other critical Infrastructures, as enshrined in the 4th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

“The NEC appreciates all the private concerns, institutions and corporate bodies that made valid presentations at the Council meeting on the development of local governments and pledges to collaborate in the interest of the larger populace of the grassroots.

“The NEC, at this moment, advises members, all council chairmen across the country to be well-guided in terms of information to promote a harmonious relationship between the tiers and arms of governments in line with global best practices as exemplified by the United Cities and Local Governments in rendering the dividends of democracy and service to the rural populace.

“The NEC expresses its gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the judiciary, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, critical stakeholders, mass media, the civil society organisations and the entire leadership of our local communities, the general public for this historic Supreme Court judgment, which granted autonomy to the local governments.”