Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra says being a state governor at this time in Nigeria is not a fanciful job, given the gamut of allegations against governors vis-a-vis local government funds.
Soludo made the assertion at a news conference on Tuesday in Awka, to clarify the new State Economic Planning and Development Law 2024 and 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.
He said: “In a society where public office is seen as ‘dinning table’ and public trust is low, people judge others by their own standards; by what they would do if they were in the position. I often ask: control for what?”
The governor said the recent Supreme Court judgment on LG autonomy was an opportunity for public good, greater transparency, coordination and collaboration between the state and LGs.
He 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.
“The eminent jurists at the Supreme Court did not outlaw collaboration and cooperation among the LGs in funding joint or common services, nor 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 (similar to the National Economic Council) decide what percentage of their revenues to contribute to a joint LG account to pay for common services.
“This is ensure that the state can function in a cohesively planned, transparent and sustainable manner to maximise the security and welfare of the citizens,” he said.
Soludo said the new laws were designed to protect workers at the local level, protect primary education and primary health care from chaos and collapse.
He also said there was the need for active collaboration between the state and LGs.
“Given the functions assigned to the LGs by the Constitution, 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,” he said.
