From Chuks Collins, Awka
No fewer than eight members of the Anambra State House of Assembly majority were of the Labour Party caucus have disassociated themselves from the Local government administration bill recently brought before the House by Gov Charles Soludo.
The tempestuous bill was reportedly passed into law today, Tuesday, 8 October, 2024.
The LP caucus led by Hon. Jude Umennajiego, representing Onitsha South 2, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Anambra State House Assembly premises shortly after the day’s sitting.
The caucus,while absolving themselves from the new ‘law’ pointed out that it was in conflict with the recent judgement of the Supreme Court on Council administration, autonomy and management of their funds.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of the caucus, Umennajiego stated that the Supreme court made unambiguous far reaching decisions in its July 11, 2024 judgement in suit No. SC/CV/343/2024, Attorney General of the Federation Vs Attorney General of Abia State and Ors on the funds and autonomy of local government as third tier government of the Federation.
He said, “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.
“The supreme Court further ordered that the money due to Local Governments be paid directly to them” he stated.
The lawmaker specifically pointed out that they disagreed with Sec 13, 14 and 16 of the Anambra State Local Government Administration bill which sought to compel the Local Governments Areas to pay their Federal allocation into an account to be established by the State Government before sharing or managing same.
This, the caucus ran foul of the copious Supreme Court judgement.
Umennajiego pointed out that in the letters of the Supreme Court decisive verdict, no State House of Assembly can make any further laws seeking to compel the Councils to pay in their Federal Allocation to the State Government under whatever guise. In his words, “We equivocally stand with the overwhelming majority of the Anambra people in upholding the Constitution and the Supreme Court decision,” he added.
The caucus members included: Umennajiego (Onitsha South 2);
Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North 2);
Paul Oby (Orumba North); and Nkechi Ogbuefi (Anaocha 1).
Others are: Fredrick Ezenwa (Onitsha North 2);
Kingsley Udemezue (Idemili North); Justice Azuka (Onitsha North 1) and Henry Mbachu (Awka South1).
