Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has sparked controversy by signing the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, which rejects absolute autonomy for local governments. Soludo argues that absolute autonomy would lead to “humongous chaos” and undermine sustainable development.
Key Points:
- Rejection of Absolute Autonomy: Soludo believes that granting absolute autonomy to local governments would be detrimental to the state’s development.
- Supreme Court Judgment: Soludo claims that the Supreme Court judgment did not nullify Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers state governments to enact laws for local government administration.
- Collaboration and Coordination: Soludo emphasizes the need for collaboration and coordination among tiers of government to prevent financial chaos and ensure sustainable development.
- Criticism: Opposition groups, including the Labour Party and civil society organizations, have criticized the law, alleging it undermines local government autonomy and enables state control over federal allocations.
The law has been met with criticism from opposition groups, who argue that it contradicts the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy. Chief Damian Ugoh of the Labour Party stated that the law seeks to arm-twist local government chairmen into paying federal allocations to the state ¹. Dr. Ralph Uche of the Civil Rights and Liberty Organisation described the law as “anti-people” and aimed at denying local governments funds for grassroots development.
Soludo defended the law, saying it protects local governments from collapse and ensures accountability. He also denied allegations that governors forced local government chairmen to sign a secret oath to transfer funds to the state.
This development highlights the ongoing debate on local government autonomy and the role of state governments in Nigeria’s federal system.
