Criticisms have trailed the signing into law of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, on Tuesday.
Soludo says that the law was necessitated by the fact that granting absolute autonomy to the 774 local government areas was a recipe for “humongous chaos” and would not lead to a sustainable development.
At a press briefing shortly before signing the law at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, on Tuesday, Soludo argued that the Supreme Court judgment did not nullify Section 7 of the 1999 constitution.
The state House of Assembly passed the bill, titled “Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024”, during its plenary session last Tuesday.
Speaking, Soludo insisted that Section 7 of the constitution empowered the state governments to enact enabling laws for the administration of the respective local government areas across the country.
He emphasised that the two legislations passed by the state Assembly sought to achieve consistency, enhanced transparency and collaboration among the tiers of government.
The signing came amid concerns from members of civil society groups and other opposition groups faulting the passage of the Local Government Administration Bill.
The opposition regarded it as an attempt by the governor to arm-twist local government chairmen into paying their federal allocation back to the state.
Among persons groups that raised concerns about the new law were a member of the Labour Party in the state, Chief Damian Ugoh, who said, “Signing of the LG is against the Supreme Court judgement.
Also reacting, the Executive Director of Civil Rights and Liberty Organisation, Ralph Uche, described the signing of the law as “anti-people,” aimed at denying the local government councils’ funds meant for grassroots development.
