President Bola Tinubu has described local government councils as a critical part of Nigeria’s governance system because they operate closest to citizens.
He urged council chairmen to apply principles of fairness, representation and federal character in appointments, administration and distribution of public opportunities.
Tinubu delivered the message through Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume at a Federal Character Commission workshop for local government chairmen in Abuja.
The President said decisions taken at the local government level had immediate consequences for daily life.
He argued that council leaders therefore carried a special responsibility to ensure that governance was inclusive and equitable.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as a national strength.
He urged council authorities to manage differences in ethnicity, culture and belief through fairness and justice.
The President referred to constitutional provisions on federal character and said the principle should be reflected not only at the federal level but also in state and local administration.
He said representation and a sense of belonging could strengthen national unity and public confidence.
Tinubu also warned local leaders against narrow sectional interests.
He said effective implementation would depend on ethical leadership rather than laws and institutions alone.
The President linked inclusive governance with development, arguing that communities were more stable and productive when citizens believed they were represented fairly.
The workshop was intended to help local government chairmen translate federal character principles into practical administrative decisions.
