Criticism has followed the enactment of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 by Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Tuesday.
Soludo explained that the law was prompted by concerns that giving complete autonomy to the 774 local government areas could result in “humongous chaos” and would not foster sustainable development.
During a press conference just before signing the law at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka on Tuesday, Soludo contended that the Supreme Court ruling did not invalidate Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
Last Tuesday, the state House of Assembly approved the bill known as the “Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024” during its plenary session.
Soludo stated that Section 7 of the constitution grants state governments the authority to create laws that facilitate the governance of their local government areas nationwide.
He stressed that the two laws enacted by the state Assembly aimed to promote uniformity, improve transparency, and foster cooperation between the different levels of government.
The signing took place in the midst of worries expressed by civil society organizations and various opposition groups criticizing the approval of the Local Government Administration Bill.
The opposition viewed it as a tactic employed by the governor to coerce local government chairpersons into returning their federal allocations to the state.
Among the individuals and groups expressing concerns about the new law was Chief Damian Ugoh, a member of the Labour Party in the state, who stated, “Signing of the LG is against the Supreme Court judgement.
“The bill seeks to arm-twist the chairmen to send back the local government allocation received directly from the Federal Government to the state coffers.
“Consequently, we, as a political party, 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.”
In response, Dr. Ralph Uche, the Executive Director of the Civil Rights and Liberty Organisation, characterized the law’s enactment as “anti-people,” asserting that it seeks to withhold financial resources intended for grassroots development from local government councils.
Uche said, “The bill seeks to compel local government areas to remit a portion of their federal allocations into a consolidated account controlled by the state, which is a wrong development.
At a press conference following the bill’s signing, Soludo characterized the two new laws as significant and emphasized that they implement the Supreme Court ruling without diminishing its authority.
Soludo said, “The debate as to whether local governments should be part of the federal constitution or left to each federating unit (state) to determine its own appropriate local government system is still an unsettled matter.
“The APC committee on restructuring Nigeria proposed scrapping the local government from the Constitution of Nigeria.
“In the context of our evolving federalism, I see the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the direct transfer of funds belonging to the local governments as an important contribution to our search for effective and transparent administration of resources at the regional level. “This is where Section 7 of the Constitution comes in handy, and the Anambra State House of Assembly has risen to the occasion. Happily, the Supreme Court did not nullify Section 7 of the Constitution.
“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.
“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 which the Constitution has given the state House of Assembly (and only the House of Assembly) the mandate to legislate on.
“Indeed, in many states, the Houses of Assembly retain the power to suspend or remove chairpersons of local governments.
“By the way, isn’t the legislative authority exercised by the State Assemblies under Section 7 of the Constitution similar to the powers granted by the Constitution to the National Assembly over the Federal Capital Territory and its Area Councils?”
The governor emphasized that structured collaboration between various levels of government is essential for sustainable development at the grassroots level, noting that no level of government operates with complete independence.
He remarked that, without effective collaboration and coordination between state and local governments, many local governments will face significant financial difficulties, necessitating bailouts from state authorities.
“The Federal Government has exclusive right over resources, but the state has exclusive right over the land. At the state level, each state is spending a fortune on its revenue.
“No tier of government can function without the collaboration of others. The three tiers have the objective of the people. The FG is not completely autonomous of the state. It’s a collaborative arrangement to achieve the same objective.
“The new laws of Anambra are designed to protect the LG against collapse, to protect our workers and prevent our primary health care from collapsing. In Anambra, we do not want to wake up and hear that one local government pays a salary while others do not.
“With these laws, workers and retirees from the LG system in Anambra can sleep with their two eyes closed. All tiers must collaborate, coordinate and work with one another. In summary, the laws ensure that the state can function cohesively.
“The essence of putting the money together is not for governors to put it in their pocket. If LG wakes up one day and can’t pay salaries or gratuities, who will intervene for them?
“That is the beautiful thing that these laws would avoid. It is designed to unleash the creative powers of the LG as well as novel accountability and ingenuity. The constitution mandates that both the state and the LGs must jointly plan the state together.
“We agreed to send the money directly to the LG, it will encourage greater participation. But then, if the money gets there, who exercises oversight function on it? How are you going to spend it so that the system doesn’t collapse and we don’t get into a chaotic situation as it were? The essence of the law is to have the state planned in a coherent, systematic and sustainable way,” the governor added.
Soludo, on the other hand, refuted the circulating claims that governors had forced local government chairpersons to sign a confidential oath permitting the transfer of local government funds to the state, emphasizing that no such incident occurred.
He said, “Governors are often accused of seeking to ‘control’ LG funds with insinuations that LG funds are mismanaged.
“Of course, in a society where public office is seen as a ‘dining table’ and public trust is low, people judge others by their standards: by what they would do if they were in the position. I often ask: control for what?”
Tragic Blaze at Spanish Retirement Home Claims 10 Lives
A deadly fire that broke out overnight at a retirement home in Villafranca de Ebro, located in northeastern Spain, claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, according to the local emergency service on Friday.
The emergency services in the Aragon region shared limited information in their X post, though Spanish media reported that 82 people were present at the facility when the fire started around 5:00 am (0400 GMT), with the cause still unknown.
Customs Chief Honors Late COAS Lagbaja’s Legacy in Strengthening Nigeria’s Security
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, praised the late Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, for his invaluable contributions to national security, describing him as a leader known for his unwavering commitment and selflessness.
Adeniyi shared these remarks in a statement released on Thursday by NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada.
He expressed that Lagbaja’s passing is a tremendous loss not only for his family, the military, and the government but for the entire Nigerian people.
Adeniyi extended his condolences to Lagbaja’s family, his colleagues, and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He announced that the NCS had rescheduled its Gala and Award Night, originally planned for Friday in Abuja as part of the Comptroller-General of Customs conference, to pay tribute to the military leader.
“This decision is taken to allow NCS to identify with the mood of the nation in mourning Lagbaja.
“The NCS acknowledges the weight of this moment; we join all to mourn the passing of a steadfast leader,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagbaja’s body was brought to Abuja on Thursday ahead of his burial set for Friday.
Stephen Akintayo dreams Trump’s appointment as US International Secretary
Nigerian entrepreneur, Stephen Akintayo is dreaming of President Donald Trump's appointment as the US International Secretary for Housing and Land Banking
Nigerian inspirational speaker and serial entrepreneur, Stephen Akintayo is dreaming of landing an appointment from President Donald Trump as the United States (US) International Secretary for Housing and Land Banking.
Akintayo revealed his dream on Friday morning in a post he shared on his official X account.
“BREAKING NEWS! Wow! Who would have thought that one day, I’d be part of a story where Donald Trump and Stephen Akintayo are mentioned in the same breath?,” he wrote.
“Looks like all my posts supporting Trump’s policy direction on housing and land banking over the years have finally come full circle.”
Akintayo who is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stephen Akintayo Consulting International, Gtext Group and Investment Limited, however, added jokingly: “This news just had me cracking up, now if only this were true.
“From my posts about his business sense to my cheers for his election strategies, it is clear I have seen a lot of values in Trump’s approach to leadership, love him or not.
“And here is the thing: if Trump did offer me this position, I would bring some African flair to it. Imagine mixing our culture’s resilience with American land strategies!
“We would make property investment great again in ways no one has ever seen before! So, what do you all think? If this was real, should I take the role?”
Akintayo is a graduate of Microbiology from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, Nigeria.
While in his fifth year in the university, the 38-year-old entrepreneur started a Student Trade Fair on his campus.
He thereafter studied Digital Marketing Consultancy at the Digital Marketing Institute and Harvard University in the US.
Lagos State Demolishes 138 Illegal Shanties Charging N100,000 Annual Rent
The Lagos State Government has torn down several makeshift structures along the Ajao Estate Canal bank, where tenants pay an annual rent of N100,000.
This information was revealed in a statement from Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, shared on X.com on Friday.
Wahab wrote, “In continuation of concerted measures to reduce the scourge of environmental infractions and illegal encampment in public spaces, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday demolished 138 shanties around the canal bank in Ajao Estate Canal where illegal occupants pays between N60,000 to N100,000 rent.”
How God stopped naira from falling to ₦10,000 per dollar- Adeboye
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has said that without divine intervention, the exchange rate could have skyrocketed to ₦10,000 for $1.
Speaking at the Special Holy Ghost Congress in Abuja, Adeboye explained that Nigeria’s financial difficulties are largely linked to its reliance on fuel imports, despite the country having significant oil resources.
He noted that billions have been spent on refineries, many of which remain non-functional, resulting in a continued dependence on imported petrol.
Adeboye also addressed the controversy surrounding the government’s decision to eliminate costly fuel subsidies, a move that angered those who profited from the previous system and contributed to further economic challenges.
“We need help, and it’s not human help; it’s divine help,” he stated.
“Before our current president took office, we were aware that the root of our financial issues lay in the importation of petrol. Despite having oil, we continued to import petrol and waste billions on refineries that did not operate effectively.
“When the president cancelled the subsidy on petrol imports, those who benefited from it became upset and created more problems.”
As the naira continued to decline rapidly, Adeboye said that he prayed and was grateful that others joined him in prayer.
“If God hadn’t intervened, $1 could have been worth N10,000 by now. This illustrates how much we need prayers,” he said.
Ondo Election: LP Dismisses Claims of Candidate Disqualification
As the Ondo State governorship election approaches, the Labour Party (LP) has refuted claims that its candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, has been disqualified.
The party has called on Nigerians, especially voters in the state, to disregard reports suggesting that Ebiseni is no longer in the race.
The controversy stems from a judgment by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which reportedly disqualified Ebiseni.
The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka and with the ruling delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, allegedly ruled in favor of an appeal against Ebiseni’s candidacy.
However, the LP insists that the matter had already been resolved internally before the court’s judgment. Ondo State LP Chairperson, Mrs. Remilekun Ojo, dismissed the reports as false, accusing opposition parties of spreading misinformation to destabilize the party.
“These reports are all lies,” Ojo said in a statement to Newsmen on Thursday.
“The issue was settled internally, and our candidate remains in the race.
This is an attempt by politicians from other parties, who feel threatened by our growing influence, to create confusion.”Ojo emphasized that Ebiseni’s name remains on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal and that the party had no official communication from the electoral body indicating otherwise.
The LP’s legal challenges began with a previous Federal High Court ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, which recognized Ebiseni and his running mate, Ezekiel Awude, as the valid candidates for the election.
Justice Nwite ruled that Ebiseni’s second primary election was valid, noting that he had paid the required nomination fees and compensated another aspirant, Festus Olorunfemi, who had withdrawn from the race.
The appellate court’s decision, however, has been contested by the LP, which maintains that the issue has been resolved.
The party also criticized media outlets for publishing misleading information about Ebiseni’s candidacy.
The party’s youth leader in Ondo State, Hon. Samuel Boniface, supported the Chairperson’s position, alleging that some politicians had attempted to bribe him to dismantle the LP structure in favor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“Three weeks ago, PDP stakeholders offered me over ₦100 million to collapse the LP structure into their party, but I declined,” Boniface revealed in an interview. “I have a goal and cannot sell my conscience.
This election is not about money but about the future of Ondo State.”Boniface also hinted at legal action against media platforms that reported the purported disqualification of Ebiseni.
“We are suing newspapers that claimed our candidate was removed from the race. The claims are baseless and disruptive.
The Olorunfemi who started this matter stepped down for Ebiseni and was duly compensated. We have all the records to prove it.
”As the November 16 election draws near, the Labour Party remains determined to challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP, asserting that it offers a viable alternative for the people of Ondo State.