The Anambra State House of Assembly’s Labour Party caucus has opposed what is purported to be an attempt by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to coerce local government chairmen into returning their allotment from the federal government to the state.
In the last two weeks, Anambra held its local government election, in which every candidate from the governor Soludo-supporting All Progressives Grand Alliance, or APGA, won a local government area.
However, Labour Party members in the state assembly claim that a bill in front of the house aims to coerce the chairmen into returning the local government’s share of funds that it got directly from the federal government to the state.
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The LP caucus in a briefing on Tuesday evening said: “Recently, Anambra State Local Government Administration Bill was brought to the Assembly.
“Some sections of the bill particularly Sections 13, 14 and 16 seek to compel the Local Governments to pay their Federal Allocation into an account to be established by the State Government, thereby running foul of the Supreme Court judgement.
“Consequently, we as the Labour party caucus in the State House of Assembly wish to state as follows: That we stand by the decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land on the autonomy of Local Government and the management of their funds.
“That going by the extant order of the Supreme Court, the State House of Assembly cannot make laws seeking to compel the Local governments to pay in their Federal Allocation to the State Government under whatever guise.
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“We therefore stand with the overwhelming majority of Anambra people in upholding the constitution and the Supreme Court decision.”
It would be recalled that on the 11th day of July, 2024, the Supreme Court gave a judgment in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024, Attorney General of the Federation V Attorney General of Abia State & ors.
The Supreme Court made significant rulings about the resources and independence of the Local Government, which is the third tier of the Federation, in that ruling.
Among other things, the ruling said that the State Government, its privies, officials, agents, and those operating on their behalf were not allowed to manage, collect, receive, spend, or tamper with monies from the Federation Account that were designated for the Local Government Council.
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Additionally, it mandated that the Local Governments receive payment directly from the state.
The eight Labour Party members of the House of Assembly briefed the press conference.
They include: Hon. Jude Umennajiego, Hon. Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi, Hon. Patrick Okafor, Hon. Fredrick Ezenwa, Hon. Kingsley Udemezue, Hon. Nigeria Henry Mbachu and Hon. Justice Azuka.
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