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The South-West Forum of Secretaries to the Local Governments (SLGs) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening grassroots governance, policy implementation and regional collaboration as preparations gradually begin ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position was made known during a courtesy visit by the executives of the Forum to the Lagos State Government, where members discussed strategies for improving governance at the local government level and enhancing collaboration among the six South-West states.

Speaking after the meeting, Chairman of the South-West SLG Forum, *Hon. Kunle Olabiwunnu*, said the visit brought together representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ondo States to foster greater alignment on policies and programmes capable of delivering meaningful development at the grassroots.

According to him, the Forum is committed to supporting government initiatives through effective administration at the local government level while promoting collaboration that will improve service delivery and community development.

“Our objective is to ensure that we remain impactful and influential in the implementation of government policies. We want stronger alignment across the South-West to improve governance at the grassroots and contribute meaningfully to the development agenda of our respective states,” he said.

Hon. Olabiwunnu noted that discussions also focused on strengthening the capacity of local government administrations ahead of future electoral activities, stressing that effective governance at the grassroots remains essential to democratic development.

Addressing questions on the Forum’s political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, the chairman stated that members across the South-West had resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, expressing confidence in the government’s ongoing reforms and development programmes.

He acknowledged that many Nigerians are facing economic challenges but maintained that governments at both the federal and state levels are implementing policies aimed at delivering long-term benefits to citizens.

“Transformation takes time. Our responsibility at the grassroots is to ensure that government programmes and interventions reach the people while helping communities understand the objectives of ongoing reforms. We are committed to making sure the impact of governance is felt at the local level,” he said.

Highlighting some of the initiatives expected to benefit grassroots communities, Hon. Olabiwunnu pointed to planned empowerment programmes for women, widows and other vulnerable groups across local governments, as well as the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, which he described as an important intervention aimed at expanding access to higher education for Nigerian students.

The Forum also announced plans to host its first-ever regional conference, which will bring together Secretaries to Local Governments from across the South-West to deliberate on issues affecting grassroots administration and institutional development.

Describing the proposed gathering as a landmark event, Hon. Olabiwunnu said the conference would focus on strengthening local government administration through training, knowledge sharing, capacity building and discussions on strategies for improving governance at the grassroots.

He explained that although a date for the conference has yet to be announced, consultations are ongoing to finalise arrangements for what he described as a historic meeting for local government administrators in the region.

According to him, the conference is expected to provide participants with practical tools for enhancing service delivery, empowering communities and promoting democratic participation through stronger grassroots institutions.

“We want to use the seminar to enlighten stakeholders on how to become more effective at the grassroots. It will focus on training, empowerment, leadership development and strengthening democratic institutions to ensure local governments continue to play their critical role in national development,” he said.

The courtesy visit underscored the Forum’s resolve to deepen inter-state collaboration, strengthen institutional capacity and promote policies that enhance governance and development across the South-West region.