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Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, has arraigned four persons, Moses Timothy; Joefrey Lawrence; Augustine Abila; and Caleb Kamiru, before a Federal High Court in Enugu on two-count charge of alleged vandalism of underground amoured cables belonging to the Enugu State Rural Electrification Agency. According to the NSCDC, the defendants committed the act on the 1st of July 2024. The corps lamented that the vandalism had obstructed water and electricity delivery in the state. The charge marked, FHC/EN/CR/140/2024, reads in part: “That you, Moses Timothy, Joefrey Lawrence, Augustine Abila, Caleb Kamiru and others at large on…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the amendment of sections of the 1999 Constitution relating to local government autonomy. This was contained in a statement made available to Ikengaonline, in Enugu. Edeoga, who was a member of the House of Representatives, asked the National Assembly to isolate sections of the Constitution that affect local government autonomy and fast-tract there amendment. He advised the Presidency to initiate an Executive Bill to the National Assembly “to excise Section 197 1(b) of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As reactions trail the financial autonomy granted local governments by the Supreme Court, a university don, Dr Philips Nto, has said that the court judgment alone, is not enough for the full liberation of the third tier of Government from the grip of State Governors. According to him, a constitutional reform is required for the local governments to function optimally and serve the people effectively. “LGs must also be autonomous politically and administratively,” he added. The former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia State, noted that the judgment of the Supreme Court is only the…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The crisis rocking the Ebonyi chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened at the weekend as a reconciliation meeting called by the Caretaker Chairman of the party, Steve Oruruo, allegedly ended in fiasco. It was learned that about nine committee members of the party and other stakeholders in attendance walked out of the Chairman and the National Vice Chairman South-East of the party, Ali Odefa, who is also from the state. Shortly after the meeting, Mr Oruruo had claimed that he had reconciled the warring factions of the party in the state but other members of…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The traditional ruler of Omor, in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, has called on the governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to create access roads to address food crisis in the State. The royal father made the call in his Omor palace during an interactive session with journalists last weekend. The monarch said that in order to address food crisis faced by the residents of the country, there is need for both Federal and State governments to construct and maintain access roads for easy distribution of farm…

 Arinze Chijioke In this report, Arinze Chijioke attempts to unravel why residents of Umunwanwa, a community in Abia State, have continued to be threatened by erosion years after, despite an intervention project by Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA). As farmers fell into spates of happiness when the clouds began to gather one Thursday this June, residents of Ngodo in Umunwanwa, one of the communities in Umuahia South Local Government, Abia State, prepared for yet another disaster – a building collapse, gully expansion or submerged houses. None of that happened. But this is the sad reality that families in Ngodo – where…

Rector Cares Foundation, in collaboration with the Poul Due Jensen Foundation/Grundfos, is embarking on a transformative project to empower over 5,000 residents in the Ibeku Community, Abia State. This impactful initiative addresses critical challenges faced by the community, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future. Ibeku Community grapples with severe water scarcity, food insecurity, and limited educational opportunities. A staggering 80% of the population lacks access to clean water, and Ibeku High School, serving over 1,500 students, struggles with inadequate infrastructure. The project will ensure sustainable access to the local healthcare facility, promoting better hygiene and sanitation…

By Owei Lakemfa The Supreme Court on Thursday, July 11, 2024 made landmark judgments on local government areas, LGAs, in the country. First, it gave the salutary order that they must be run by elected persons. Its second order that LGAs be paid directly by the centre, seeks more or less, to de-link them from the states they are located. In other words, it gives powers for the centre to deal directly with the LGAs. This of course, strengthens the unitary system of government which military regimes imposed from 1966. Conversely, it is another defeat for federalism which the Constitution…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu, Rev Fr Christian Anieke, has counseled graduating students of the university to show exemplary performance in their future endeavours. Anieke made the call during the Thanksgiving Mass organised by the University for 2023/2024 graduating students of the university on Sunday. The cleric urged the graduating students to detach themselves from material things as a way of imitating Christ. On the thanksgiving, the vice chancellor said the university organised it to thank God for completing the academic year. He said that the graduating students had finished their exams…

By Nnamdi Elekwachi The landmark judgment granting full financial autonomy only to democratically elected local governments across the federation should be considered as a ‘Doctrine of Necessity,’ because the Supreme Court had to expeditiously explore grey areas, and in so doing came up with its final and conclusive interpretation. It is quite sad that governors reigned with impunity like czars, diverting funds due to the LGAs and imposing puppets thereto, leading to this judgment. When it comes to how the local governments are to be established, and by which tier of government, the constitution is not ambiguous in Section 7(1),…