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Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed the possibility of granting absolute autonomy to local government areas in Nigeria, asserting that it would create disorder. His comments came as he enacted the newly passed Local Government Administration Law in Awka.
Governor Soludo argued that existing challenges threaten to destabilize local governments and disrupt services to the people. Critics have accused him of using the new law to exert control over the finances of the state’s 21 local governments, despite a Supreme Court ruling supporting local government autonomy.
He defended the legislation, citing Section 7 of the Constitution, which provides the legal basis for state assemblies to enact local government administration laws. “The new laws passed by the Anambra House of Assembly are designed to implement the Supreme Court judgment, not to undermine it,” Soludo said, stressing that without such laws, local governments would lack the framework to manage their finances.
The governor acknowledged the persistent allegations against state governors regarding control over local government funds but questioned the motive behind these accusations. “In a society where public office is viewed as a ‘dining table’ and trust is low, people judge others by their own standards,” he stated.
He warned that abandoning structured oversight could lead many local governments to insolvency, necessitating bailouts or federal intervention. Soludo highlighted the burden of rising wage bills due to the new minimum wage, which could escalate pension and gratuity obligations.
Reflecting on his administration’s progress, Soludo noted the clearance of outstanding gratuity payments from 2018-2022, significant investments in primary schools, the remodeling of local government secretariats, and the recruitment of over 8,000 new teachers. He emphasized that local governments need continued oversight to maintain financial stability and avoid reverting to past difficulties.
