Anambra Governor Inaugurates Committee on State-Local Government Joint Account

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has inaugurated a nine-member Committee for the State-Local Government Joint Account.

The Governor inaugurated the Committee shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, at the Government House, Awka.

Speaking shortly after performing the inauguration, Governor Soludo appreciated them for accepting to serve in the committee.

According to the Governor; “the resources are not there. But at the same time, you are being called upon to do some very special disruptive function. It is going to be alot of hard work. Why do I say that? Because you are being called upon to do very disruptive work at a time of major challenges in the country. Major challenges in the finances of the state and local government and you’ve been called upon to find the solution”.

The Governor further explained that the local system is largely two fold including its financing and its administration.

“We are going to set up the local government administration. That’s definite. But the administration of the local government is a bit of a challenge. The infrastructure in the various local governments including the ones that have been burnt down needs to be repaired. Even staff don’t go to work in the local governments. But we must eventually get the services down to the people”, the Governor said.

“For us we have a vision to have responsibility devolve to base and to have a local government that is empowered from the base, to deliver development to the grassroot. We have a peculiar local government system where the staff and other obligations of the local government are pulled together” he added.

Local government autonomy

On local government autonomy, Professor Soludo said; “I hear people talk about autonomy. If you want to implement a strict autonomy, it will mean that each local government will employ and pay its staff. That is what it will mean but this is not the case. That is why you find someone in Idemili working in Ayamelum and someone from Ayamelum working in Nnewi South because they have a pool system”.

Governor Soludo also took time to explain that resources accruable to the State governments from the federal are low because of NNPC’s inability to remit a kobo to the federation account, which they may not do again because it is now a limited company, emphasizing that there should be some sort of competitive system in place for the various local governments.

He said; “we are trying to devolve the responsibilities; waste management, security because we are now doing security at the community level, issues of environment and so on and so forth. My aspiration and with you as the committee, we are going to work together so that they too can compete and have lee way to raise their own revenues. They should become creative in generating revenue. Of course, when that lingers, we also expect you together with the service commission, to have some thought about not just how to run the account, but you also have a job to do to have a new local government system and the financing framework that will deliver development to the people. We are seeking to have a local government that truly works”, Soludo added.

The Governor pointed out that regarding the management of the JAAC, alot of things will be done differently after careful thought process, especially in terms of financing options.

“Some have got some assets that they can charge. Some have shops that they can ‘premise’ while some run mass transit system and so on and so forth. With the wisdom and calibre of people that make up this commission, I’m sure you will deliver because our intention is to rejuvenate the local government system”, the Governor concluded.

Delivering on mandate

Earlier while presenting the committee members for inauguration, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Collins Nwabunwanne described them as competent to deliver on the mandate.

Chairman of Transition Committee Chairmen, Mr. Livinus Onyenwe who spoke on behalf of other members of the Committee, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to serve in that capacity, pledging to work round the clock to efficiently deliver service to Anambrarians..

Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government Affairs, Mr. Asha Nnabuife, among others, were present at the event.

Emmanuel Ukoh