Ministry Proposes 90-day Action Plan On Grassroots Development

The federal government has proposed a 90-day implementation roadmap to translate resolutions from a national conference of local government chairmen and traditional rulers into measurable improvements in grassroots governance, security and service delivery.

The proposal was highlighted at the 2026 Third Quarter Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum, organised by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs in Abuja, yesterday.

The forum, which focused on strengthening grassroots development through intergovernmental collaboration and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, brought together stakeholders to discuss practical ways of improving governance and delivering development projects to communities.

Through the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, the minister, Zaphaniah Jisalo, called for stronger cooperation among the federal, state and local governments to address development challenges at the grassroots.

Jisalo said effective coordination among the three tiers of government was essential to achieving the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda and improving the welfare of Nigerians.

He urged participants to develop practical recommendations with clearly defined responsibilities, implementation timelines and measurable outcomes to ensure that resolutions reached at stakeholders’ meetings translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

The minister also stressed the need for greater transparency, accountability, citizen participation and accurate reporting of government projects, noting that effective monitoring was critical to achieving development objectives.

Among the priorities identified were the use of the Geographic Information System-based Project Monitoring Information Management System (GIS-PMIS) for electronic tracking of development projects and stronger partnerships between local governments and traditional institutions.

Other areas of focus included agricultural development through public-private partnerships, community and food security, and measures to strengthen local government financial autonomy.

Earlier, Ihemelandu urged participants to build on the resolutions of the maiden Annual National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen and Traditional Rulers by developing actionable strategies to improve accountability and service delivery.

He called for sustained collaboration among the different levels of government, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and citizens to promote inclusive and sustainable development.

The guest speaker, Ejimonu Nwokodike Charles, said implementing the resolutions of the conference involving chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas would require coordinated action, clear priorities and effective monitoring mechanisms.

He identified community security, financial autonomy and accountability, improved agricultural productivity, the development of herbal medicines and digital monitoring of government projects as key areas requiring attention.

Charles also emphasised the importance of partnerships among the federal, state and local governments, traditional rulers, security agencies and other stakeholders in addressing challenges affecting local communities.

He said the proposed 90-day roadmap would provide a framework for implementing agreed resolutions, tracking progress and assessing results in grassroots governance, economic opportunities and public service delivery.

The forum reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening intergovernmental relations and promoting more effective coordination of development initiatives across the country.