LP caucus in Anambra Assembly opposes Soludo’s alleged attempt to hijack LG funds

The Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly has resisted alleged attempt by the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to arm twist local government chairmen into paying their federal government allocation back to the state.

The Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly has resisted alleged attempt by the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to arm twist local government chairmen into paying their federal government allocation back to the state.

Anambra had last two weeks held its local government election, in which all the candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who are loyal to Governor Soludo won all the 21 Local Government Areas.

But members of the Labour Party in the state assembly are alleging that a bill before the house is seeking to arm twist the chairmen to send back the local government allocation received directly from the federal government back to the state coffers.

POLITICSLP caucus in Anambra Assembly opposes Soludo’s alleged attempt to hijack LG fundsPublished on October 9, 2024By Joe Chukindi 

The Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly has resisted alleged attempt by the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to arm twist local government chairmen into paying their federal government allocation back to the state.

Anambra had last two weeks held its local government election, in which all the candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who are loyal to Governor Soludo won all the 21 Local Government Areas.

But members of the Labour Party in the state assembly are alleging that a bill before the house is seeking to arm twist the chairmen to send back the local government allocation received directly from the federal government back to the state coffers.

The LP caucus in a briefing on Tuesday evening said: “Recently, Anambra State Local Government Administration Bill was brought to the Assembly.

“Some sections of the bill particularly Sections 13, 14 and 16 seek to compel the Local Governments to pay their Federal Allocation into an account to be established by the State Government, thereby running foul of the Supreme Court judgement.

“Consequently, we as the Labour party caucus in the State House of Assembly wish to state as follows: That we stand by the decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land on the autonomy of Local Government and the management of their funds.

“That going by the extant order of the Supreme Court, the State House of Assembly cannot make laws seeking to compel the Local governments to pay in their Federal Allocation to the State Government under whatever guise.