The Anambra State Government has urged advocates of new autonomous communities to abandon the agitation following a Supreme Court ruling, warning that splitting existing communities could trigger disputes and undermine social cohesion.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Mr Law Mefor, said “the State Executive Council had welcomed the ruling and urged communities to focus on unity and development within their existing structures”.
The council also dismissed reports that the government planned to reclaim schools returned to religious missions. However, it expressed concern over standards in some of the schools and resolved to establish minimum operating requirements for public and private primary schools, with non-compliant institutions facing closure.
Mefor said “the state had recruited 8,115 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, including 3,500 deployed to mission-returned schools, whose salaries and other entitlements the government continues to pay”. He added that renovations were ongoing in several primary schools under a joint funding arrangement with the Federal Government.
On infrastructure and commerce, the council said the regeneration of Onitsha Main Market remained on course for completion by December. The project, led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, aims to restore the market’s master plan and improve its organisation and public image.
The council also reviewed preparations for the state’s Onwa Dezemba festive programme, which will feature Christmas carols, musical performances, decorations and cultural activities to attract residents and visitors during the December season.
The decisions were reached at the 16th meeting of the second-term Anambra State Executive Council, held at the Light House in Awka, where members also considered other matters, including project awards.
