By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONet) a citizens’ advocacy and governance organization, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to withhold his assent to the recently passed State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, by the House of Assembly.
Leader of the group, Prince Chris Azor, in a statement described the recently passed law as an affront to the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Autonomy, anti people and therefore, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
The Statement reads in part “Mr Governor, we hereby, implore you to withdraw assent to the obvious obnoxious Bill, as it was not properly thought through, and in contempt of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy delivered on 11th July 2024.
“The Orders and declarations of the Supreme Court unambiguously averred that no portion of the local government funds should be taken either in part or whole.
“The Apex Court categorically held that the State governments have no power to keep, control or disburse allocations from the federation account to local government Councils.
“It granted an order of injunction restraining the State governments by themselves, their privies, agents, officials or howsoever so called from further collecting, receiving, spending, or tampering with local government Council funds”
“Mr Governor, the Anambra State local government administration law copiously provided in sections 13, 14, 16 and others, that local government allocations accruing to Anambra local governments be paid into a state-local government joint account within two (2) working days of receipt. The passed Bill also requires the State Assembly to determine its mode of disbursement.
“The above stipulations are in clear violation of the constitution of the federal Republic (as amended) as well as the supreme court judgment of July, 11, 2024.
“We most humbly, advise Mr Governor to rather embrace a consensus and dialogue option by setting up a Stakeholders’ Committee akin to a similar one convened by the federal government in August this year.
“Even though we are convinced that there’s imperative need for collaboration with the local government administration in addressing common issues around salaries, emoluments, pension and gratuities of Primary School Teachers, local government staff, Primary Health Care officials etc.
“However, these can be achieved without an overarching law that negates the very philosophy of local government autonomy as enshrined in the constitution and reinforced through recent declarations and orders of the highest court of the land.
“The Local Government Administration Law of Anambra State, 2024, if assented to by Mr Governor, will present a recipe for anarchy and destabilization.
“We therefore humbly, appeal to you, as an erudite Professor par excellence, and most distinguished professional, to withdraw and repeal that Law.
“We most affectionately appeal that you deploy your expertise and intellect in further entrenching Transparency and accountability structures in the local government administrative architecture, and ensure integrity in its governance standards.
“We therefore, reemphasize the need to publish the accounts of local government councils on monthly basis.
“As Civil Society advocates, we most patriotically volunteer our competencies to contribute in service delivery through external audit and project monitoring for sustainable development of the local governments, and indeed our dear State.”
