The Anambra State Waste Management Agency’s managing director, Engr. Mike Ozoemena, announced an increase in waste collection rates in a live radio broadcast around two weeks ago.
The statement quickly became a hot topic of conversation in all of Anambra’s public areas. Many people questioned why ASWAMA was discussing a garbage charge when waste was left lying around on street corners and in certain prominent locations throughout the state. The agency, however, stuck firmly to its choice.
WHAT ASWAMA SHOULD LEARN FROM LAWMA
Recall that the declaration simply served to increase public worry about the present administration’s push for increased revenue, which now appears to be being sought at all costs and runs the risk of turning the populace against the new administration. ASWAMA has held its position since that time. Even though it is obvious that it will be difficult to collect the garbage levy. It is unknown at this time whether any state residents have paid the agency the new rate. The public was unaware that the MD of the Agency had arbitrarily set the new tariffs, making his declarations unlawful and casting him in the role of a lawbreaker. In truth, the scenario is worst than merely breaking the law. What the MD of ASWAMA did was to assign the powers of the Legislature to himself and then went on to make a new law, fixing new rates, at will.
Before yesterday, when Hon. Nonso Okafor moved a motion of urgent importance and alerted his colleagues and even the people of ndi Anambra to the illegality that the MD of ASWAMA had perfected, the man almost got away with such a scandalous offense that has seriously damaged our legal system and governmental institutions. The inference is that serious thought is required if the MD of a government agency created by law can suddenly decide to write his own laws and carry out his own orders without consulting the agency’s founding legislation. It is not a mistake. What if Nonso failed to research the law’s provisions?
Hon. Nonso Okafor’s vigilance has saved Anambra State residents from being taken on an illegal ride. The ASWAMA law of 2015 was consulted by Hon. Nonso and thereupon discovered that the Mr. Mike Ozoemena, ASWAMA MD, was merely acting on his own without the backing of the law that established his agency. By this action, Nonso showed that as a legislator, he is dutiful in the discharge of his duties and therefore kept an eye on what’s important. How embarrassing would this have been if it was challenged in court a few years down the line! The House of Assembly was summarily rescued from such a huge embarrassing situation. Anambra residents and businesses were also saved from the burdens of illegal levies imposed by the MD of ASWAMA.
It is important to observe that lawmaking is a vigilant business. And the people must reckon with those who knows the job and does it, like Nonso Okafor, to go and do it.
Ahead of 2023 General Elections, the people must send only competent people to the National Assembly in their own best interests. Those who can do the job should be elected to go do it, without sentiments.
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