President Bola Tinubu called on local government chairmen across Nigeria to prioritise equity and inclusive development. The directive coincides with a national workshop in Abuja organised by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) to promote balanced infrastructure distribution across the 774 LGAs. The President’s call underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring that development is not concentrated in a few areas but spread evenly across the country. The workshop is a recognition that the 774 local governments are the frontline of service delivery and that their equitable development is essential for national cohesion.
The winners: the 774 local government areas, which stand to benefit from more balanced infrastructure distribution; and the Nigerian public, who may see more equitable development. The losers: areas that have historically benefited from disproportionate investment; and the Nigerian government, which must ensure that the workshop’s recommendations are implemented.
Bottom Line: Tinubu wants equity in local development. The question is whether the LGAs will get the resources to match the rhetoric.