APGA Reps back Soludo’s fresh LG law

Federal lawmakers from the All Progressives Grand Alliance have expressed their support for Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, commending his dedication to ensuring financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils.

This comes in response to claims made by Labour Party lawmakers, who alleged that Governor Soludo was attempting to undermine the autonomy of the 21 local government areas in Anambra through an executive bill currently before the state House of Assembly.

Last week, the LP National Assembly caucus, led by Senator Tony Nwoye, accused Soludo of trying to enact the State and Local Government Joint Account law, which they described as a violation of the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments.

In a communique issued following a meeting of APGA lawmakers on Saturday evening, the caucus characterised the LP’s allegations as misleading and called for collaboration to advance Anambra State’s interests.

The leader of the APGA Caucus in the House of Representatives, Paschal Agbodike, read the communique, clarifying that the proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, has been “misinterpreted as an attempt to undermine local government autonomy.”

The communique stated, “Governor Soludo remains committed to ensuring good governance and accountability. He is dedicated to enhancing local government autonomy and fostering the development and prosperity of all Anambra citizens. Contrary to the claims by Labour Party lawmakers, the proposed law does not contradict the Supreme Court judgment on local council financial and administrative autonomy.”

Agbodike dismissed the allegations against Soludo as “baseless and misguided,” emphasising that existing laws empower states to regulate grassroots administration.

He pointed to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which grants states the authority to establish, structure, finance, and regulate local government councils.

The APGA lawmakers urged their LP counterparts to “cease their cheap political theatrics” and recognise the importance of collaborative governance for Anambra State’s progress.

They asserted that the proposed law, once enacted, would transform governance in the Southeast region.

The Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, aims to enhance collaborative development efforts between the state and local governments. Key provisions include the payment of gratuities, pensions, and salaries for primary school teachers, counterpart funding for Universal Basic Education projects, and establishing oversight from the State House of Assembly to ensure accountability and proper governance.

The APGA lawmakers also highlighted that the proposed law provides a robust legal framework for joint expenditures between state and local governments, aligning with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy.

In a show of confidence, the APGA lawmakers declared their continued support for Soludo, referring to him as “the best governor in Nigeria” and assuring him of their commitment to good governance in Anambra State.