Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has raised serious concerns about granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs), warning that it could lead to “humongous chaos” and disrupt sustainable development across the country.
The governor made these remarks on Tuesday at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka, after signing a new law into effect—the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law 2024.
This law, passed by the State House of Assembly last Thursday, outlines the financial management structure between the state and its LGAs.
While discussing the newly signed law, Soludo stated that giving absolute autonomy to local governments is not only unrealistic but could also result in disorder. He argued that such autonomy would create more problems than it solves, mainly because local governments lack the necessary capacity to manage their affairs independently.
“The absolute autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country is an impossibility,” Soludo stated firmly. “In fact, it is a recipe for humongous chaos. The attendant challenges before the issue of local government autonomy are such that would certainly deepen the fate of the system and spell doom for the expected beneficiaries of the process if not well planned.”
Soludo explained that under Nigeria’s constitution, local governments are administrative extensions of the state, not fully independent entities. He referred to Section 7 of the constitution, which empowers state governments to enact laws for the administration of LGAs, underscoring the importance of state oversight in maintaining order and ensuring proper governance.
The newly enacted Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 introduces significant changes to how funds allocated to local governments from the federal government are managed.
Section 13(1) of the law mandates that all federal allocations to local governments must be deposited into a “State Joint Local Government Account,” controlled by the state government. This provision is intended to allow the state to oversee the usage of funds and ensure that resources are effectively allocated for development purposes.
Soludo justified this approach by stressing that without such oversight, many local governments could mismanage their resources, leading to corruption, inefficiency, and underdevelopment.
“The new laws by the Anambra House of Assembly are therefore consequential to give operational life to the Supreme Court judgment and not to undermine it,” the governor said. “If the State House of Assembly abdicates this constitutional duty, the Local Government will then have no law on the use and management of its finances.”
The Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 is clear about how local government funds will be handled under the new system.
Section 14(3) stipulates that each LGA must remit a state-determined percentage of their federal allocations into the consolidated account within two working days of receiving their funds. This ensures that local governments contribute a portion of their resources to state-controlled projects and development initiatives.
Section 14(4) goes further, outlining that if the state government receives an LGA’s allocation on its behalf, it has the right to deduct the specified percentage before disbursing the remaining funds to the local government. This clause provides the state with a mechanism to ensure compliance and prevent misuse of funds at the local level.
Soludo’s comments come amid a growing debate over local government autonomy in Nigeria. Advocates of autonomy argue that local governments need to be empowered to make independent decisions, manage their resources, and drive grassroots development without state interference.
In many parts of Nigeria, local governments are often criticized for being inefficient and unable to provide basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Many believe that granting them full autonomy would allow them to focus on addressing the unique needs of their communities.
However, critics, including Governor Soludo, have expressed concern that local governments lack the capacity to handle full autonomy. They argue that many local governments are riddled with corruption and mismanagement and that without proper oversight, autonomy could worsen these issues.
Soludo emphasized that local governments are crucial parts of the state’s governance system, but they must be carefully managed to avoid chaos.
“We cannot overlook the importance of oversight,” Soludo said. “The state government plays a critical role in ensuring that local governments do not misuse their resources or engage in corrupt practices that would undermine the development of the state as a whole.”
Across Nigeria, local government administration has been fraught with challenges. Many local governments are underfunded, lack skilled manpower, and often rely heavily on federal allocations for survival. In some cases, these funds are misused or diverted for personal gain by corrupt officials.
The push for local government autonomy gained momentum in recent years after a series of legal battles and political debates. Some governors have resisted the move, arguing that local governments are not yet equipped to handle the responsibilities that come with autonomy.
In 2021, the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled in favor of local government autonomy in some states, but implementation has been slow, with many state governments continuing to exercise control over local government finances.
Soludo’s decision to sign the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 reflects his vision for local government reform in the state.
While he acknowledged the need for improvements at the local level, he stressed that a cautious approach must be taken to avoid creating more problems. Soludo has long been a proponent of state-led development initiatives, emphasizing the role of the state government in coordinating efforts to ensure that local governments function effectively.
“We must be realistic about the capacity of our local governments,” Soludo said. “Without proper planning, granting full autonomy to local governments would only lead to more problems, including corruption, mismanagement, and underdevelopment.”
Soludo’s administration has made efforts to address these issues by introducing reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability at the local level. These reforms include regular audits of local government accounts, capacity-building programs for local government officials, and tighter controls over the use of public funds.
