Members of the Labour Party in the National Assembly on Thursday warned the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo and the Anambra State House of Assembly of operating State/Local Government joint account in the State.
This is even as the members expressed displeasure over allegation of ongoing moves by the Governor to enact a State and Local Government joint Account law.
According to LP Federal lawmakers, the joint account would be in clear violation of the landmark judgement delivered by the Supreme Court on Local Government financial autonomy.
This was disclosed by the leader of the Caucus, Senator Tony Nwoye during a briefing in Abuja.
He urged the Speaker and members of Anambra Assembly to stop further consideration of the Executive Bill for the purpose.
The LP National Assembly members who spoke in turns, argued that the provisions of the proposed Bill is at variance with the ruling of the Supreme Court.
They maintained that the Bill titled: “Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024,” was subservient to the Supreme Court ruling. As well as other extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The lawmakers frowned at the provisions of Clauses 13, 14 to 20, of the Bill, among others, which is subservient to the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
The clauses focuses on the ‘State, Joint Local Government Account’, ‘Local Government Consolidated Account’, ‘Consolidated Account Management Committee’, ‘Local Government Security Trust Account’, ‘Local Government Security Trust Account Committees’, among other issues.
Senator Nwoye also decried the ravaging insecurity across the State. He, therefore, queried the rationale for the proposed 20 percent deduction from the Federation Allocation to Local Governments as proposed in the bill.
He said: “The good people of Anambra State that we all represent in the National Assembly, we all have gathered to raise an alarm over the growing threat by Anambra State Government led by Professor Chukwuma Soludo to financially strangulate the 21 Local Government Areas in Anambra State. And to deprive them their financial autonomy recently confirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Kindly recall that On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court in SC/343/2024 delivered a landmark judgment. In which, Justice Emmanuel Agim Jsc ruled that all funds due to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria must be paid directly into the accounts of Local Governments. No longer through State and Local Government Joint Account.
“We are seriously worried that Anambra State Government wants to take our dear State back to era of impunity. Especially where the House of Assembly seems to be complicit in this show of ignominy.
“Permit us to illustrate this proposed obnoxious law with specific reference to some sections side by side with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on 11th July 2024.
“Section 13(1) of the proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration law 2024, under the subheading: ‘State, Joint Local Government Account’, stated that the “State shall maintain a special account called State Joint Local Government Account. And shall pay into it all allocations from Federation to the Local Governments of the State.
“Another obnoxious section of the proposed Anambra State Local Government Administration Law 2024 aimed at stifling Local Government financial autonomy is section 16. Which established Local Government Joint Security Trust account to be managed on its behalf and which requires the Local Governments to remit 20% of its allocation within two working days of receipt of its allocation from Federation Account.”
Nwoye therefore, called on Governor Soludo to withdraw the proposed legislation.
It’s a slap on Anambra, it’s a slap to the rule of law. And it’s a slap to Federal Republic of Nigeria especially the person of record in his own right. This is because the Attorney General initiate the action on behalf of the Federal Government. It’s a slap on constitutional democracy and our judiciary. Because it’s the apex law in the land which law overrides any other law.
“So, that is why we are saying let them withdraw it. Let it stop now because once they pass it and it’s signed into law we’ll now swing into action.”
The Minority Deputy Whip, Hon. George Ozodinobi while speaking on the development, described the Governor as challenging Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation over their recent approval. He, therefore, urged Governor Soludo to withdraw the proposed Bill without further delay.
Ozodinobi said: “We will avail you with the copy of the obnoxious Bill sent to the State House of Assembly to critically look at their section 17 subsection 1a, b, c, that’s the core crux of the bill. His Special Adviser will be Chairman to manage the supposed 20 percent they want to pass. His Commissioner will be the Deputy Chairman, and himself as a Governor will now appoint Mayors rather than Chairman of Local Governments, one per 3 Senatorial District. The Governor will the one that’ll appoint who’ll be members of this Board. And he will direct on the disbursement of such; those are the core issues.”
Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Ogene, urged Governor Soludo to retrace his steps.
He said: “While we are urging the Governor to do the needful by withdrawing the proposed Bill that he has sent, we are also calling on members of Anambra State House of Assembly to be mindful of the judgement of history. People who sit over bad laws, obnoxious laws, also have their names written in infamy.
“They will not be on that seat forever. In our dear State, issues have come up even when Mr. Peter Obi was impeached. Many of those who sat and superintended over that still bear the burden of that criminality till this day.
“So, current members of the Anambra State House of Assembly should be mindful of their names. They should be mindful of where they come from. And that if they don’t render account to the people today, they will certainly do so in the future.”
source: The Nation
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