- Anambra Governor Charles Soludo cautioned against granting full autonomy to local governments, warning it could lead to “massive chaos” and financial hardships
- The new Anambra Local Government Administration Law requires LGAs to remit part of their federal allocations into a consolidated state account
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has voiced concerns over granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs), cautioning that it could lead to “massive chaos.”
He made this statement on Tuesday after signing the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka.
The new law, passed by the State House of Assembly last Thursday, mandates that LGAs in Anambra remit part of their federal allocations into a consolidated account managed by the state government.
This move follows the Supreme Court’s July ruling that directed federal allocations to be paid directly to local governments.
Governor Soludo expressed that while autonomy is important, absolute local government independence could create serious challenges.
He noted, “Absolute autonomy for the 774 local government areas is an impossibility and a recipe for humongous chaos. The challenges with local government autonomy could worsen the situation and harm the intended beneficiaries if not properly planned.”
Soludo emphasized that without coordination between local, state, and federal governments, many LGAs could face financial hardships and possibly need bailouts or federal intervention to avoid insolvency.
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