Soludo committed to LG autonomy, APGA replies LP caucus

Federal lawmakers elected on the All Progressives Grand Alliance platform have commended Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, for his commitment to the financial and administrative autonomy of Local Government Councils.

They described as misleading the claims by Labour Party lawmakers that Governor Soludo was making moves to strip the 21 Local Government Areas in Anambra State of autonomy via an executive bill now before the State House of Assembly for consideration.

Recall that last week, the LP National Assembly caucus, led by Senator Tony Nwoye, accused Soludo of a ploy to enact the State and Local Government Joint Account Law, describing it as a circumvention of the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the third tier of government.

In a communiqué read after a meeting of APGA lawmakers on Saturday evening, the caucus called on their LP counterparts to join hands with Governor Soludo in moving Anambra State forward.
The leader of the APGA caucus in the House of Representatives, Paschal Agbodike, who read the communiqué, said that the proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, has been “misinterpreted as an attempt to undermine local government autonomy.”

The communiqué read in part, “Governor Soludo remains committed to ensuring good governance and accountability.
“He is dedicated to enhancing local government autonomy and fostering development and prosperity for all Anambra citizens.

“Contrary to Labour Party lawmakers’ claims, the proposed law does not contradict the Supreme Court judgment on local council financial and administrative autonomy.”
Describing the allegations against Governor Soludo as “baseless and misguided,” Agbodike, who represents Ihiala Federal Constituency, noted that the nation’s extant laws empower states to regulate grassroots administration.
He said, “Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) unequivocally empowers states to establish, structure, finance, and regulate local government councils.”

While urging the LP National Assembly caucus to “cease their cheap political theatrics and recognise the importance of collaborative governance for Anambra State’s progress,” the APGA lawmakers stated that when signed into law, the bill will change the face of governance in the South-Eastern State.

“The Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, aims to enhance collaborative development efforts between the state and local governments.

“It will ensure joint initiatives, including provisions for the payment of gratuities, pensions, and salaries for primary school teachers.

“It aims to provide counterpart funding for Universal Basic Education projects and establish necessary oversight from the State House of Assembly to ensure accountability and proper governance,” the communiqué further read.

The APGA lawmakers also called on their LP counterparts not to forget that the proposed law “provides a robust legal framework for joint expenditures between state and local governments and aligns with the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, ruling on financial autonomy,” among others.
The APGA lawmakers further passed a vote of confidence in Soludo, describing him as “the best governor in Nigeria,” and assured him of continuous collaboration on good governance for Anambra State.