Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Local government autonomy, upheld by the Supreme Court, may face challenges in Anambra State following a new bill introduced by Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the State Governor.
It was learnt that the State House of Assembly approved the bill, which mandates local government areas (LGAs) to remit part of their federal allocations into a state-controlled account.
Hon. Henry Mbachu, a member representing Awka South I State Constituency raised the alarm on Tuesday, urging the governor to withdraw the bill, which has been submitted to the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Mbachu argued that the bill, if passed, would allow the state government to share in funds meant for local government councils, potentially undermining their financial independence.
The Secretary to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Emma Madu, confirmed that the assembly passed the bill, titled Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, on Tuesday.
However, Governor Soludo has defended the bill, stating that it aligns with the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy.
According to him, the bill requires LGAs to deposit a state-determined percentage of their federal allocations into a consolidated account maintained by the state.
Mbachu and members of the Labour Party caucus in the Assembly have raised concerns about the bill’s potential impact on local government administration, fearing that LGAs will lose control of their funds if the bill is implemented.
In a response on behalf of the Governor, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, maintained that the House of Assembly acted within the law.
“Is it the Supreme Court that should donate power or the constitution? Does the Supreme Court make laws?” Mefor questioned, suggesting that the court’s judgment was merely an interpretation of the constitution and does not override it.
According to Mefor, Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution empowers State Houses of Assembly to enact laws regarding the administration and financial regulations of LGAs. He argued that the bill aligns with the Assembly’s constitutional mandate, urging those who oppose it to challenge it in court.
“The Supreme Court’s judgment does not, in any way affect the constitution. Nobody is saying that local governments will not be autonomous,” Mefor added.
Political analysts predict that if the bill is successful in Anambra, other governors may follow suit to maintain control over local government finances while complying with the Supreme Court ruling on autonomy.
