Tinubu, FCC Charge 774 Council Chairs on Inclusive Governance

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, along with federal ministers and agency heads, has called on chairmen across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to implement federal character principles at the grassroots to drive equity, accountability, and local security.

The directive was delivered on Monday, 24 August 2026, in Abuja during the opening of a two-day national workshop organized by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in partnership with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Key Takeaways and Official Statements

The workshop, themed “Translating Federal Character Principles into Local Governance”, brought together local government heads, security officials, and federal administrators:

• Presidential Charge: Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume stressed that local councils serve as the primary interface between citizens and the state, urging leaders to transcend sectional interests in favour of national unity.
• Equity as Strength: FCC Executive Chairman Hulayat Omidiran stated that Nigeria’s cultural and religious diversity should be leveraged as a strength through fair resource distribution and inclusive decision-making at the council level.
• Grassroots Security Architecture: Minister of Defence General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.) advocated for functional Local Government Security Coordination Committees to leverage community intelligence, improve early warning systems, and safeguard key economic assets like agricultural hubs.
• Autonomy and Accountability: Representing PGF Chairman Hope Uzodimma, PGF Director-General Folorunso Aluko warned that increased financial autonomy must be matched by strict fiscal discipline, merit-based appointments, and public audit compliance.
• National Values: Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lanre Issa-Onilu highlighted that equitable development fosters national belonging, reinforcing the objectives of the National Values Charter.

The two-day conference concludes on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, with an actionable framework expected to guide local administrators on resource allocation, inclusive hiring, and inter-agency security cooperation.