Pharm Chinedu Ikeagwuonwu Klinsmann, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has voiced strong concerns regarding comments made by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. The governor suggested that granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) could result in significant chaos and impede sustainable development.
Governor Soludo’s remarks came following the signing of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, which the State House of Assembly had recently approved. In his address, the governor referred to Section 7 of the Constitution, stressing that state governments are permitted to enact laws governing local administrative affairs, underscoring the need for state oversight of LGAs.
The new legislation requires the state to maintain a Joint Local Government Account where all federal allocations to the LGAs will be deposited. Additionally, it mandates that LGAs transfer a state-determined percentage of these funds to a consolidated account shortly after receiving their allocations.
In response, Klinsmann expressed disappointment, arguing that the federal initiative to provide autonomy to LGAs, reinforced by a recent Supreme Court ruling, is crucial for addressing the challenges stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies. He contended that allowing LGAs to operate independently would enable them to generate jobs, improve social amenities, and stimulate local economies, thereby alleviating poverty.
Klinsmann urged other governors to support the federal push for grassroots democracy rather than hindering it. He questioned the motives behind Soludo’s actions, asking why past state control over LGAs had not led to their development if the intentions were genuinely positive.
The APC chieftain called for a reversal of Soludo’s approach, advocating for the autonomy of elected local officials. He cautioned against suppressing local governments and suggested that strong oversight by anti-corruption agencies could address concerns about potential corruption within LGAs.
Klinsmann rejected Soludo’s claims that the new law is constitutionally sound, arguing that it contradicts the Supreme Court’s affirmation of LGAs’ financial independence. He warned that allowing such legislation to stand would set a precedent for other state governors to undermine local government autonomy, representing a regressive step for democracy in Nigeria.
