ALDI Seeks Greater Political Role For Councillors, Warns Against Grassroots Legislature’s Decline

The African Leadership Development Initiative (ALDI) has called for greater political recognition and participation of local government councillors in Nigeria’s governance structure, warning that their continued marginalisation could undermine public confidence in democracy.

The National Coordinator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ALDI, Uzo Eberendu, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the National Conference of Leaders of Local Government Legislative Councils in Nigeria.

Eberendu said councillors, despite being the elected representatives closest to the people at the grassroots, were often neglected in political decision-making, poorly remunerated and excluded from critical discussions affecting their communities and the country.

He said the conference was convened to address what he described as the gradual decline of the local government legislative arm and to explore ways of strengthening its relevance in Nigeria’s political and governance processes.

According to him, councillors occupy a strategic position in the leadership structure because of their proximity to the people and their understanding of the challenges confronting communities.

However, he lamented that they remained largely absent from national political debates, constitutional amendment processes and key activities within political parties, including congresses, primaries and conventions.

Eberendu also questioned why governments at the federal and state levels often engage traditional and religious leaders to address grassroots challenges without giving elected councillors comparable recognition.

He attributed the situation partly to what he described as a lack of awareness among councillors of their constitutional and political influence, as well as inadequate efforts by the lawmakers themselves to demand a stronger voice in governance.

The ALDI coordinator urged councillors to organise themselves, deepen their engagement with political parties and other tiers of government, and advocate greater inclusion in decisions affecting Nigeria’s political future.

He said councillors should play more visible roles in lawmaking, constitutional amendment debates and the selection of political leaders at the local, state and federal levels.

Eberendu also encouraged participants to build networks that would promote knowledge-sharing, cooperation and economic opportunities among councillors across the country.

He warned that the continued exclusion of grassroots political representatives could contribute to declining public trust in democratic institutions.

“Who can be a greater advocate for the cause of the councillor than the councillor himself?” he asked, urging the participants to take greater responsibility for advancing their interests.

He cited the writings of Frantz Fanon and William Shakespeare to reinforce his argument that leaders must recognise critical moments in their history and act decisively to shape their future.

Eberendu said the conference was also intended to encourage fresh thinking, stronger relationships and a renewed commitment to effective grassroots representation.

He assured participants that ALDI remained committed to the initiative and disclosed that some leaders would be selected from the conference for opportunities to travel overseas through the programme.

According to him, the initiative would build on previous experiences of participants who had benefited from similar programmes.

Eberendu expressed optimism that the conference would help councillors overcome the low status they believed they occupied in Nigeria’s political structure and enable them to make more meaningful contributions to governance and community development.