The minister of budget and economic planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has advised local government administrators to stop depending on federal allocation and look inwards to harness internal resources abound in the all the 774 local government areas in the country.

The former Kebbi State Governor said that all the local government areas in the country should cash on the comparative advantage of resources in their areas, stressing that councils are blessed in one way of the other in terms of resources.

Badugu spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing participants at the 4th edition of Local Government Economic Summit organised by the Summit Group.

On the theme of the summit, “25 Years of Uninterrupted Democracy in Nigeria: The Place of Local Government in Rural Development and Food Security”, Badugu noted all the existing councils are economically viable but lamented that their insistence on federal and state governments have grossly affected development in the grassroot.

“We must think outside the box on how to explore our comparative advantage in the interest of our people. Local government should not just dependent on transfer from state and the federal government, they should look inwards on how to harness their resources.”

The minister recalled how he leverage on rice and cassava when he was the governor of Kebbi State to change the fortune of the state.

Kano State governor, Engr. Abba Yusuf, said local government are uniquely position to identify the challenges of those at the grassroots as well as proffer solutions to addressing same.

Represented by his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Garazo, the governor said in order to ensure food security at the grassroot, government must support small holders farmers with necessary implements if they must deliver and help in addressing food insecurity.

He then assured local government leaders in the state of the readiness of his administration to provide the needed platform to strengthen local government.

Earlier the National President of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Bello Lawal said the newly granted financial autonomy to to local government has heightened the expectation of the people but called for support of the other tiers of government, developmental partners and civil societies for the new regime ti function perfectly well.

“We have no other choice but to rise to the occasion and ensure that all LGCs play their rightful role in driving development across the country. Transparency, accountability, openness, and accessibility will continue to be our watch words and the bedrock of our policies and leadership.

“I will like assure all and sundry that the current crop of leaders at Local Government level will not disappoint Nigerians.

The ALGON leader assured that the association is committed to ensuring a strong collaboration and partnership with the federal and state governments, Development Partners, Private Sectors and other key stakeholders to ensure accelerated development at the grassroot levels.