President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the 36 state governors to give utmost priorities to the needs of the people at the grassroots.
President Tinubu made the appeal when he received the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The president said the call was necessary to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the administration of local governments.
He also asked the Arewa leaders to hold their governors accountable to the people.
“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 they must urgently consider the needs of the local people,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
“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.”
President Tinubu also expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children in the North, describing it as unacceptable.
While frowning at the poverty situation in the region, the president advocated collaboration to address the situation.
