Anambra LP Lawmakers Tackle Soludo Over Bill To Stifle LG Autonomy
Labour Party lawmakers caucus in the Anambra State House of Assembly have distanced themselves from the Local Government Administration bill passed into law on Tuesday 2024 by the Assembly.
The bill seeking the remittance of Local Government fund from federal allocation to a joint account was brought by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo
The Labour Party caucus members led by Mr Jude Umennajiego, representing Onitsha South 2, declared their positions during a media briefing in Awka on Tuesday..
The LP Lawmakers said they stood by the decision of the Supreme Court on the autonomy of the local government and management of their funds.
They noted that the Supreme court made far reaching decisions in their 11th of July, 2024 judgment in suit No. SC/CV/343/2024, Attorney General of the Federation VS Attorney of Abia State and Ors on the funds and autonomy of local government as third tier of the Federation.
“The judgement among other declarations barred the State Government, its agents, privies, officials and those acting for or on their instruction from interfacing, managing, collecting, receiving, spending or tampering with Local Government Council funds from Federation Account.
“It further ordered that the money due to Local Governments be paid directly to them,” they said.
The LP Caucus rejected sections 13, 14 and 16 of the Anambra State Local Government Administration bill which is seeking to compel the Local Governments to pay their Federal allocation into an account to be established by the State Government, saying it ran contrary to the Supreme Court judgement.
The group pointed out that, going by the Supreme Court judgement, the State House of Assembly could make laws seeking to compel the local governments to pay in their Federal Allocation to the State Government under whatever guise.
They said they equivocally stood with the majority of Anambra people in upholding the constitution and the Supreme Court decision.
Other Labour Party members t the briefing were Mr Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North 2) Mr Mazi Paul Oby (Orumba North), Mrs Nkechi Ogbuefi (Anaocha 1), Mr Fredrick Ezenwa (Onitsha North 2),
Others were Mr Kingsley Udemezue (Idemili N) Mr Justice Azuka (Onitsha North 1) and Hon. Nigeria Henry Mbachu (Awka South1).
