President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the resolve of the federal government to strengthen local governments’ ability to meet their role in advancing goals especially the millennium development goals (MDGs) and post-MDGs as well as other items on the Transformation Agenda.
Sambo stated this Tuesday when he received a delegation of the board members of the Membership of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in his office, State House Abuja on behalf of President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
While commending Nigeria’s membership of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) for entrenching values that enhance decentralization at local level of government and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, the President reiterated the commitment of the federal government to enhancing democracy and improving governance at all levels.
Mr. President expressed his appreciation of the effort of the forum toward supporting projects and programmes that would enhance rapid socio-economic development in the various regions of the commonwealth.
“We commend your efforts towards development of concepts around the theme of developmental local government and other well-meaning measures towards making local government the focus of developmental agenda of government” Said Mr. President.
The President added that government would continue to encourage the forum in its efforts at improving the wellbeing of communities and regions through programmes in concert with other developmental partners as well as work towards strengthening the capacity of the forum to promote effective, responsive and accountable delivery of local government services to the various communities in the various countries of the commonwealth.
The leadership of the forum led by the chairman Lawrence Yule and Secretary General Carl-Wright, who spoke at the occasion said the essence of the meeting in Abuja was to discuss democracy at the local government level and the need for timely local government elections as well as to foster regional cooperation amongst member nations and the need to develop an Abuja Declaration of Democracy for Development.
Earlier, the Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki who accompanied the officials introduced the essence of the visit while subsequently introducing members of the entourage
Present at the meeting were the CLGF vice chairman Philip McPhee and Director of Communication Susan Rhodes, President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigerians (ALGON) Nwabueze Okafor, National President Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, amongst others.
