The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has called for the adoption of a unified four-year tenure for elected local government officials in the country.
Alh. Aminu Muazu-Maifata, National President of ALGON, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Muazu-Maifata said that the move would ensure good governance and quality representation at the grassroots levels.
The president called on the National Assembly to urgently amend the nation’s constitution to unify the tenure of local government officials across the country.
“The tenure of local government officials should be made four years to enable us deliver on our campaign promises to the electorate.
“It is unfortunate that the tenure of local government officials in some states is even one or two years.
“So, I wonder how these officials will deliver good governance within such a short period,” he lamented.
On the N62,000 minimum wage proposed by the Federal Government, the ALGON boss called on the Federal Government to increase the monthly allocations of the 774 local government areas in the country.
He maintained that the move would enable the councils to pay the new minimum wage when it finally becomes a law.
Muazu-Maifata, who is the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa Sate, however, lauded Gov. Abdullahi Sule for granting autonomy to all the councils in the state.
He called on other governors to emulate Sule toward the overall development of the country, particularly the grassroots.
On the security situation of Lafia, he explained that the partial curfew was imposed in the locality as a measure to tackle the increasing rate of kidnapping and other crimes within the state capital.
“We restricted the movement of motorcycles between 6p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and tricycles between 8p.m. and 6a.m.
“This is because security reports have it that criminal gangs are using these two means of transportation to perpetrate crimes and operate between the restricted hours,” he explained.
Muazu-Maifata, however, said that the security situation in Lafia has improved, adding better strategies would be adopted toward the safety of lives and property.