By Nneka Mbamalu
A human Rights Group, Human Dignity Restoration Association, HDRA, has urged the Anambra State government to suffix LGA Election budget and immediately reconstitute the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) by forwarding names of members to the State House Assembly for approval and empower the commission to organize elections.
This was contained in a press release issued to newsmen by the group under the leadership of comrade Rev Jude Achebe, who has faulted the governor’s plans towards the ₦410 Billion presented to members of the State Assembly on Tuesday.
“There’s clear indication that His Excellency isn’t preparing to conduct LGA Election as he promised during his campaign.
Take for example, according to The member representing Awka South Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Henry Mbachu “page 475 of the budget, the budget for the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission for this current year was N89,120,000, while the projected estimate for the incoming year is N129,120,000.
“You find out that there’s no feasibility or readiness for local government elections for the upcoming year.”
“However, local government as the third tier of government is an act of establishment.
Section 7(1) 1999 Constitution as amended, The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.
“Subsection (3), it shall be the duty of a local government council within the State to participate in economic planning and development of the area referred to in subsection (2) of this section and to this end an economic planning board shall be established by a Law enacted by the House of Assembly of the State.
“Fourth schedule of federal Republic of Nigeria constitution 1999 as amended outlines the functions of LGA.
” Therefore, it is clear that the state government is denying citizens their right to local government dividends by not conducting local government elections that would enhance grassroots development.
“The appropriation of local government funds by the state government must henceforth stop. Local government funds from the federation account should only be received by Elected Chairmen and not the aberration called transition chairmen,” Achebe posited.
He urged Governor Soludo to change the narrative of not conducting local government election in Anambra State and ascribe it in the Anambra State political chronicles.
