Soludo’s Bold Move? Anambra Assembly LP Caucus Exposes Alleged Plot To Control LG Funds

Following the recent local government elections, in which candidates from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), loyal to Governor Soludo, won all 21 Local Government Areas, the Labour Party members have raised concerns about a bill currently under consideration in the assembly. They claim that this bill aims to coerce the chairmen into redirecting the local government allocations received directly from the federal government back to the state.

During a briefing on Tuesday evening, the Labour Party caucus stated, “Recently, the Anambra State Local Government Administration Bill was introduced in the Assembly. Some provisions, specifically Sections 13, 14, and 16, seek to compel local governments to deposit their federal allocations into an account established by the State Government, which contravenes the Supreme Court’s judgment.”

The caucus emphasized their commitment to uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding local government autonomy and the management of their finances. “We stand by the Supreme Court’s decision, the highest authority in the land, which asserts the autonomy of local governments and their financial management,” they declared.

According to the caucus, the Anambra State House of Assembly cannot enact laws that force local governments to remit their federal allocations to the state in any form. “We align ourselves with the overwhelming majority of Anambra citizens in upholding the constitution and the Supreme Court’s verdict,” they added.

It is worth noting that on July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024, Attorney General of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Abia State & others. The ruling reinforced the autonomy of local governments as a third tier of government and prohibited state governments and their agents from interfering with or managing local government funds from the Federation Account. The court ordered that all funds due to local governments should be paid directly to them.

The press conference was attended by eight members of the House of Assembly from the Labour Party, including 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.