Prioritise LG Autonomy, Market Regulation, APC Support Group Urges Tinubu

The Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups (CASG) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritise local government autonomy and establish a Price Control Board to enhance governance and improve economic stability.

Dr Ahmed Saleh, CASG’s Director of Media Strategy, appealed during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, emphasising the need for practical steps to strengthen the nation’s governance framework.

“We call on Mr. President to prioritise these issues, as they are crucial for fostering effective governance,” Saleh said.

“Local government autonomy must be fully implemented. While progress has been made, practical implementation remains lacking. Local governments must have the autonomy to initiate development projects directly.”

Saleh also advocated for the revival of a Price Control Board to regulate market prices, a measure he said was effective during the military era.

“This initiative can be reintroduced to stabilise the economy,” he added.

The CASG director stressed the importance of more vigorous checks and balances between the executive and legislative arms of government, citing a need for more meaningful legislative opposition as a significant governance challenge.

Hajiya Mariam Michael, Deputy Women Leader of CASG, highlighted concerns over resource management and accountability.

She noted that while Nigeria operates a three-tier governance system, initiatives often fail to penetrate the local government level.

“For instance, nobody questions how the additional 30% allocations to states are being utilised or monitors the contracts awarded to these states,” Michael said.

She urged greater transparency to ensure that resources reach their intended beneficiaries.

Comrade Odumosu Temitope, National Coordinator of the One Nation for National Support Group, appealed to Tinubu to entrust the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative to professionals rather than state governors.

On his part, Yakubu Haruna, CASG’s Director of Programmes and Special Duties, lauded the president’s commitment to addressing long-standing challenges but urged him to accelerate reforms for sustainable development.