Federal lawmakers from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have publicly voiced their support for Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, commending his commitment to ensuring both financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils. This endorsement comes amidst claims from members of the Labour Party (LP) in the legislature, who accused Soludo of attempting to diminish the autonomy of the state’s 21 local government areas through an executive bill currently awaiting consideration by the state House of Assembly. The tension escalated when the LP National Assembly caucus, led by Senator Tony Nwoye, specifically alleged that Governor Soludo was working to enact the State and Local Government Joint Account law, a purported infringement of the Supreme Court’s decision that guarantees local governments’ financial independence.
In response to these accusations, APGA lawmakers convened for a meeting and issued a communique, categorizing the Labour Party’s allegations as misleading. The leader of the APGA caucus in the House of Representatives, Paschal Agbodike, articulated that the proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, has been wrongly interpreted as a move to undermine local autonomy. He emphasized that Governor Soludo is genuinely dedicated to promoting good governance and accountability, asserting that the legislation under consideration does not conflict with existing Supreme Court judgments that grant autonomy to local councils.
Agbodike characterized the Labour Party’s claims against Soludo as baseless and misguided, stressing that state governments possess the authority to regulate local governance. His defense referenced Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which explicitly grants states the right to establish, structure, finance, and oversee local government councils within their jurisdictions. He called on LP lawmakers to put aside what he deemed “cheap political theatrics” and instead embrace a collaborative approach to governance that would benefit the progress of Anambra State.
The proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, seeks to enhance the cooperation between state and local governments through several key provisions. These include the payment of gratuities, pensions, and salaries for primary school teachers, as well as counterpart funding for Universal Basic Education projects. Moreover, it aims to create an oversight mechanism involving the State House of Assembly to ensure accountability and adherence to good governance practices at the local government level. The APGA lawmakers argue that this framework aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial independence and recognizes the necessity of joint expenditures between different governmental tiers.
Significantly, the APGA caucus articulated the belief that the proposed legislation could have transformative implications for governance in the Southeast region. They stressed that it would bolster local government operations and lay the groundwork for more effective development initiatives that resonate with the aspirations of the state’s inhabitants. In this light, the APGA lawmakers reaffirmed their unwavering support for Governor Soludo, lauding him as “the best governor in Nigeria” and restating their commitment to promoting good governance principles in Anambra State.
In conclusion, the discourse surrounding the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, reflects broader themes of governance, political rivalry, and the complexities of managing autonomy and collaboration within Nigeria’s federated system. While the APGA positions itself as a proponent of local government autonomy and good governance, the Labour Party’s criticisms highlight the contentious nature of political discourse in the region. This situation underscores the importance of transparent communication and the need for ongoing dialogue between political factions to advance the interests of Anambra State and foster developmental progress that benefits all citizens.
