From Our Correspondent
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says being a state governor at this time in Nigeria is not a fanciful job, given the gamut of allegations against governors on local government funds.
TheNewsZenith reports that Soludo made the remarks at a news conference on Tuesday in Awka.
He used the occasion to clarify the new State Economic Planning and Development Law 2024 as well as the Local Government Administration Law, 2024.
According to him, governors are often accused of seeking to ‘control’ LG funds with insinuations that LG funds are mismanaged.
“In a society where public office is seen as a ‘dining table’, people judge others by their standards.
“This is an indication of what they would do if they were in the position. I often ask: control for what?” he said.
The governor said the recent Supreme Court judgment on LG autonomy was an opportunity for public good.
It will engender greater transparency, coordination and collaboration between the state and LGs, he added.
Soludo said the judgment prompted the enactment of the laws to ensure that funds transferred to the LGs were properly appropriated, spent and accounted for.
According to him, the new laws are consequential to give operational life to the Supreme Court judgment and not to undermine it.
“Neither the Constitution nor the Supreme Court judgment prescribes the manner of appropriation, expenditure and audit/accountability for LG funds.
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“The eminent jurists at the Supreme Court did not outlaw collaboration and cooperation among the LGs in funding joint or common services.
“Neither did they nullify Section 7 of the Constitution.
“The new laws require that the LG chairmen meet under the aegis of the State Economic Planning Board. This is similar to the National Economic Council.
“The board decides what percentage of their revenues to contribute to a joint LG account to pay for common services.
“This is to ensure that the state can function cohesively planned, transparent and sustainable.
“It is also to maximise the security and welfare of the citizens,” TheNewsZenith quotes Soludo as saying.
Soludo said the government designed the new laws to protect workers at the local level. The laws also protect primary education and primary healthcare from chaos and collapse.
He also said there was a need for active collaboration between the state and LGs.
“Given the Constitution functions for the LGs, it is impossible to see how they can perform them without active collaboration with state governments.
“Without active collaboration and coordination between state and LGs, many LGs will end up in a huge financial mess, requiring bailouts by state governments,” Soludo said.
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