Rejection Of LG Autonomy: Call Soludo To Order – Onjeh Urges Tinubu
Daniel Onjeh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and the party’s 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Benue South, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action against Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
Onjeh made the statement in response to Soludo’s recent enactment of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024. According to Onjeh, this law aims to undermine the Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision that granted Nigeria’s LGAs full financial autonomy.
When Soludo signed the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, he had warned that granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas could cause “humongous chaos.”
Onjeh, on the other hand, said in a statement on Monday that Soludo’s claim that full LG autonomy could lead to “humongous chaos” is not only unfounded but also an insult to Nigeria’s highest court.
He continued, “In fact, any measure that allows state control over LG funds will truly hinder development at the grassroots.” With LG autonomy, funds go directly to the councils, breaking the bureaucratic chains that have held back local progress for too long. Our communities require a real, long-term development path like this.
Onjeh stated, “Any attempt to undermine a Supreme Court decision is an open invitation to anarchy.” Every Nigerian, whether a governor or a citizen, is obligated to respect and uphold the authority of the Supreme Court.
The Court’s decision regarding the autonomy of local governments must be carried out without delay. It’s about keeping the law, which is what keeps our country together.
In addition, Onjeh urged the National Assembly to make constitutional amendments that would institutionalize the Supreme Court’s interpretation of LGA autonomy and render it immune to state interference a top priority.
He urged lawmakers to rise to the occasion and secure the legal framework necessary to safeguard the national financial and political autonomy of local governments.
He went on to say that the support of all state governors and state houses of assembly is absolutely necessary for the National Assembly to be able to amend the Constitution in a seamless manner to reflect the entirety of the Supreme Court’s decision on LG autonomy.
There is no need for us to fight over this. According to Onjeh, the food crisis in Nigeria has gotten worse as a result of the rising tide of insecurity. This presents a serious obstacle for a population that is expanding at an exponential rate, like ours.
“President Tinubu must stand resolute, preventing any governor from manipulating the Supreme Court’s decision for personal or political gain,” the APC chieftain added, urging President Tinubu to issue a clear directive ensuring full adherence to the Supreme Court ruling in all states.
“LG autonomy will raise the level of political consciousness of citizens at the grassroots, promoting the growth and consolidation of democracy in the country, enabling democracy to flourish in Nigeria. Participatory democracy begins with the people.”
Onjeh asked the federal government to come up with a clear plan for putting the Supreme Court’s decision into action.
“Governors should not try to negotiate with the President behind closed doors about how to apply the Supreme Court’s decision on LG autonomy. He stated, “The Federation’s Attorney General ought to act quickly on the matter and develop a plan for the implementation of the judgment.”
“Local government autonomy is more than just a change in policy; It leads to meaningful democracy, efficient administration, and genuine public service. Let us seize this opportunity to improve Nigeria by starting at the bottom.