LABOUR PARTY CAUCUS IN ANAMBRA DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM LG ADMINISTRATION BILL BROUGHT BY THE STATE GOVERNOR 09-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu Members of the Labour Party caucus in the Anambra State House of Assembly have disassociated themselves from the Local government administration bill brought by Anambra State Governor Professor Charles soludo.
The House of Assembly during plenary presided over by the Speaker Mr Somtochukwu Udeze passed the bill on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024.
The Labour Party caucus members led by Mr Jude Umennajiego, representing Onitsha South 2, made this known while addressing journalists at the Anambra State House Assembly complex shortly after plenary.
According to the LP lawmakers, they stand by the decision of the highest court in Nigeria, Supreme Court, on the autonomy of the local government and management of their funds.
Mr Umennajiego who addressed Journalists on behalf of others stated that the Supreme Court made far reaching decisions in its 11th of July, 2024 judgement in the suit No. SC/CV/343/2024, Attorney General of the Federation VS Attorney of Abia State and Others on the funds and autonomy of local government as third tier of the Federation.
He noted that 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 Labour Party caucus said they disagreed with sections 13, 14 and 16 of the Anambra State Local Government Administration law passed which is seeking to compel the Local Governments to pay their Federal allocation into an account to be established by the State Government, which runs foul of the Supreme Court judgement.
They also pointed out that going by the Supreme Court judgement, 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.
The Law makers therefore argued they equivocally stand with the overwhelming majority of Anambra people in upholding the constitution and the Supreme Court decision.
Africa247 Correspondent reports that he Labour Party members include Mr Jude Umennajiego (Onitsha South 2) Mr Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North 2) Mazi Paul Obu (Orumba North) Lady Nkechi Ogbuefi (Anaocha 1) Mr Fredrick Ezenwa (Onitsha North 2) Mr Kingsley Udemezue (Idemili North) Mr Justice Azuka (Onitsha North 1) and and Mr Henry Mbachu (Awka South1) who was absent during the briefing.