The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has said it is worried by the level of insecurity in the country.
Hon. Malik Ikpopo, the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state and member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ALGON stated this on Thursday during a NEC meeting of ALGON in Abuja.
He said ALGON was in support of state governments setting up vigilante and security outfits like Amotekun, the security outfit set up by states in south west Nigeria.
According to him, the position of local governments as grassroots setups makes ALGON to be on the frontline in matters concerning insecurity in Nigeria.
The NEC meeting was called for the National President of ALGON, Hon Kolade David Alabi to brief the NEC members on the activities of the Council. However, NEC members also used the occasion to pledge solidarity with the leadership of Hon Alabi following a recent attempt by some members to create factions in ALGON.
In his address at the meeting, Hon Alabi told the NEC that ALGON’S legal team had successfully recovered the ALGON House in Abuja after a legal battle at the Abuja High Court.
Said he, “I profoundly acknowledge with deep appreciation our legal team, both external and internal for their professional dexterity to retrieve the ALGON HOUSE here in Maitama, Abuja.
“Their (court judges) conclusive words in their judgment are damning of the high level fraud perpetrated against the body of ALGON.
On relationship with other international organisations of local governments, Hon Alabi said, “we have equally maintained our follow up, collaboration and synergy with the United Cities and Local Governments –Africa, (UCLG Africa) and that of the European Union have been established.
“ALGON as well as other members of UCLG Africa, having been recognized as state actors, have the unique opportunity to now participate in the dialogue with EUD, representatives of the Federal Government in the formulation and execution of agreed programmes”, Alabi further disclosed.
He hinted of a vigorous collection of Television licence fees by local governments as a means of boosting the internally generated revenue of ALGON members.
