Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that granting full autonomy to Nigeria\u2019s 774 local government areas could lead to \u201chumongous chaos\u201d and hinder sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Governor Soludo made this statement on Tuesday at the Governor\u2019s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka, after signing the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, titled \u201cAnambra Local Government Administration Law 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n
The law was passed by the State House of Assembly last Thursday.<\/p>\n
Soludo argued that absolute autonomy for local government areas is impossible and would create chaos due to the attendant challenges. He said that Section 7 of the constitution empowers state governments to enact laws for local government administration, highlighting the importance of state oversight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe absolute autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country is an impossibility,\u201d Soludo said. \u201cIn fact, it is a recipe for humongous chaos. The attendant challenges before the issue of local government autonomy are such that would certainly deepen the fate of the system and spell doom for the expected beneficiaries of the process if not well planned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soludo explained that the new laws are consequential to the Supreme Court judgment and not intended to undermine it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new laws by Anambra House of Assembly are therefore consequential to give operational life to the Supreme Court judgment and not to undermine it,\u201d Soludo stated. \u201cIf the State House of Assembly abdicates this constitutional duty, the Local Government will then have no law on the use and management of its finance.\u201d<\/p>\n
CITYWATCH reports that the bill requires local government areas (LGAs) to remit a portion of their federal allocations into a consolidated account controlled by the state.<\/p>\n
Section 13(1) of the bill stipulates that the state shall maintain a \u201cState Joint Local Government Account\u201d into which all federal allocations to LGAs must be deposited. Section 14(3) of it mandates that each LGA must remit a state-determined percentage to the consolidated account within two working days of receiving their allocations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Section 14(4) outlines that if the state receives the LGA\u2019s allocation on their behalf, it must deduct the specified percentage before disbursing the remaining funds to the LGA.