Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has firmly rejected the idea of absolute autonomy for local governments (LGs) in Nigeria, stating that it would lead to chaos. Speaking on Tuesday after signing the Local Government Administration Law in Awka, Soludo argued that the challenges associated with local government autonomy would only worsen the current system and bring harm to those expected to benefit from it.
Soludo pointed to Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides the legal framework for the administration of local governments. He explained that this section allows state governments to enact laws for their local governments, as the Anambra State House of Assembly has done. Soludo noted that the Supreme Court has not nullified Section 7, allowing for state assemblies to play a crucial role in overseeing local government finances and operations.
He highlighted that without the legislative authority granted by Section 7, local governments would lack any legal framework to manage their finances, creating instability. He also pointed out that in many states, the state assemblies hold the power to suspend or remove local government chairpersons, a vital part of maintaining order in the system.
Soludo addressed the common accusation that governors seek to control local government funds, stating that such accusations stem from public mistrust and assumptions about misuse of power. He emphasized that many governors, including himself, are focused on ensuring the financial health of the local government system, not exploiting it. According to Soludo, without the coordination and oversight provided by state governments, many local governments would face insolvency, forcing states or even the federal government to step in with financial bailouts.
He also warned of the challenges posed by rising wage bills due to the new minimum wage, along with the increased costs of future pensions and gratuities, which could overwhelm local government budgets if not managed properly.
Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Soludo mentioned that when he took office, local governments in Anambra had accumulated four years of unpaid gratuities for retired primary school teachers and other staff (2018-2022). He said his government has since restructured local government finances to ensure sustainability and those retirees from his tenure are now receiving their gratuities and pensions. Soludo also stated that his administration cleared three years’ worth of counterpart funding arrears for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), leading to significant investments in primary schools.
Additionally, Soludo pointed out that 326 primary health centers are being constructed or modernized across the state, with hundreds of medical personnel being employed to staff them. Local government secretariats have been remodeled, and the local government system is once again functional. He also mentioned that 3,615 out of the 8,115 new teachers recruited under his administration were assigned to primary schools and are being paid regularly.
Soludo concluded by stressing that he does not want the local government system to revert to its previous state of dysfunction, asserting that structured oversight and accountability are crucial to maintaining progress.
