Pharm Chinedu Ikeagwuonwu Klinsmann, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has expressed strong disapproval of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent stance on local government autonomy. Klinsmann criticized the governor for suggesting that granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) could result in chaos and hinder sustainable development.
Governor Soludo made these remarks after signing the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, passed by the State House of Assembly. He justified the new law by citing Section 7 of the Constitution, which gives state governments the authority to enact laws for local government administration. The law mandates a State Joint Local Government Account, where all federal allocations to LGAs in Anambra must be deposited. It also allows the state government to deduct a percentage from these allocations before disbursing the remaining funds to the LGAs.
Responding to this development, Klinsmann criticized Governor Soludo’s actions, describing them as counterproductive to the Federal Government’s efforts to grant full autonomy to LGAs, a move affirmed by the Supreme Court. He highlighted that the aim of LGA autonomy is to enhance local governance and mitigate the effects of policies like the removal of fuel subsidies.
Klinsmann argued that autonomous LGAs could create jobs, provide social amenities, and improve security, thus boosting local economies and alleviating poverty. He urged state governors to support the Federal Government’s initiative and avoid actions that could undermine progress. He also challenged Soludo’s claim that his administration’s control over LGA resources is beneficial, questioning the effectiveness of such control in developing the LGAs.
The APC chieftain called on Soludo to respect the autonomy of LGA administrations and allow them to fulfill their mandates independently. He warned against using joint accounts as a means to control LGA finances and suggested that anti-corruption agencies monitor LGA officials to ensure transparency and accountability.
Klinsmann emphasized that state and local governments could collaborate through joint funding arrangements for critical projects, but anything beyond that would hinder the development of LGAs. He argued that Soludo’s new law contradicts the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming financial autonomy for LGAs and urged other governors not to follow this approach.
Klinsmann concluded by asserting that if Soludo’s law remains, it could set a dangerous precedent for other states, reversing the progress made in securing LGA autonomy and disregarding the Supreme Court’s ruling.
