The recent statement issued by the Kogi State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has once again stirred debate over the long-standing issue of local government autonomy in Kogi State. While ALGON confidently asserts that the 21 local government chairmen operate freely — with full financial and administrative independence — many Kogites, political observers, and civic voices strongly disagree.
To the average resident, ALGON’s declaration appears to gloss over an uncomfortable reality: the glaring absence of visible development across several local councils. For many communities, ALGON’s words do not align with the daily struggles they face or the projects they do not see. This contrast has raised critical questions about governance, accountability, and transparency at the grassroots.
The Struggle Between Official Narratives and Lived Realities
ALGON argues that the state government does not interfere with council affairs and that its support has enhanced development across LGAs. But on the ground, the story is different. Political observers note that Kogi may be the only state where a local government chairman cannot boast of executing a project worth even ₦500,000 — an amount that should be easily attainable in any functioning local administration.
When a chairman cannot point to a half-million-naira project in two or three years, it is not just a failure of governance — it is a crisis of credibility.
ALGON’s Statement: A Double-Edged Sword
Ironically, ALGON’s defense of the state government ends up casting doubt on the capacity and performance of the council chairmen themselves. If there is truly no interference and they indeed enjoy full autonomy, then why are the councils not delivering?
Why are communities still lamenting dilapidated roads, broken boreholes, abandoned health centres, unpaid workers, and nonexistent developmental footprints?
ALGON’s statement, rather than clearing the air, leaves the public with even more questions — and very few answers.
Convincing Kogites: What Must Be Done
To bridge this credibility gap, the government and ALGON must go beyond press statements. Kogites are informed, observant, and capable of distinguishing rhetoric from results. To regain public trust, three steps are essential:
- Publish LGA Project Records
Each local government must publish detailed project lists — what was executed, where, when, and at what cost. Transparency is the quickest antidote to doubt.
- Engage the People Directly
Town hall meetings across all 21 LGAs will give chairmen an opportunity to speak directly to citizens and defend their record. Silence breeds suspicion; engagement fosters trust.
- Allow Independent Verification
Civil society groups, journalists, and community monitors should be encouraged to verify claims on ground. Development should not only be said — it should be seen.
Beyond Kogi: A National Dilemma
The controversy in Kogi reflects a bigger national challenge: the fragility of Nigeria’s local government system. Across the country, LGAs remain the closest tier of government to the people, yet they are often the weakest in performance, visibility, and accountability. Until this structural flaw is addressed, disputes like the one in Kogi will continue to surface.
Conclusion
ALGON’s attempt to dismiss allegations of interference has inadvertently opened a wider debate about performance and accountability. For Kogites, the issue is not about statements — it is about development they can touch, see, and benefit from.
To convince the public, Kogi’s local government chairmen must move from defending autonomy to demonstrating results. Only then can trust return to the grassroots, and only then will governance truly feel local.
– Ibrahim Yahaya writes from Lokoja.
