SOLUDO SIGNS CONTROVERSIAL STATE-LG BILL INTO LAW

REPORTER: BEN ILECHUKWU

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says the State Local Government Administration Law passed by the House of Assembly is consequential to give operational life to the Supreme Court judgment and not to undermine it.

Governor Soludo, who stated this during a state broadcast and signing of two legislative bill into law at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, cited that the Sections 7 in the 1999 constitution among others, empowered each State through its House of Assembly to make laws.

The two legislations signed into law were the Economic Planning and Development Law, 2024; and Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024.

According to Governor Soludo, the laws provides “for the establishment, structure, composition, finance, and functions…” of the local governments.

“If the State House of Assembly abdicates this constitutional duty, the Local Government will then have no law on the use and management of its finance, which the Constitution has given the State House of Assembly (and only the House of Assembly) the mandate to legislate on.

“Indeed, in many states the House of Assemblies retain the power to suspend or remove chairpersons of local governments,” the Governor said.

“The two legislations passed by the progressive Anambra House of Assembly seek to achieve three objectives: consistency with the Constitution and judgment of the Supreme Court; enhanced transparency and productive collaboration; and promotion of sustainable finance, democracy, and development at the local government.

“The laws seek to codify the collaborative arrangements to promote transparency and accountability.” he Governor added.

The Anambra State Governor, while pledging judicious and accountable use of the state resources at his disposal further maintained that the laws would also ensure that the State can function in a cohesively planned, transparent and sustainable manner to maximize the security and welfare of the citizens.

The Governor also quoted section 7 (3), stating that “it is the duty of a local government council within the State to participate in economic planning and development of the area referred to in sub section 2 of the section which gave rise to the establishment of the Anambra State Economic Planning Board.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU