By Karen James
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has announced the enactment of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, designed to safeguard the rights and welfare of local government workers, primary school teachers, healthcare workers, and pensioners across the state’s 21 local government areas. The Governor made the announcement earlier today at a press briefing held at the Anambra State Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia.
Addressing concerns that the law might be exclusionary, Soludo clarified that the legislation aims to provide a transparent and fair framework for ensuring that local government functions are properly funded. He emphasized that the law guarantees timely payment of salaries, pensions, and benefits to local government workers, teachers, and healthcare providers.
“In Anambra, we do not want to wake up to hear that some were paid salaries and others were not. This law ensures that local government services are delivered as a first-line priority, protecting those in local government service, primary education, and primary healthcare,” Soludo stated.
The Governor further explained that the law fosters collaboration between the state and local governments, as mandated by the constitution. This collaboration, according to Soludo, is essential for effective economic planning and delivering crucial services, including healthcare and education, across the state.
He added that Anambra is pioneering a new approach to local governance by establishing an economic planning board where local government chairpersons collectively decide how to pool resources to support shared services such as salary payments, pensions, and community security.
Governor Soludo also addressed concerns about the potential pitfalls of absolute local government autonomy. He warned that allowing local governments to operate without coordination could lead to administrative chaos, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors. “Absolute autonomy would mean each local government managing its own education and healthcare independently, which could result in disparities in service delivery and disrupt Anambra’s progress in providing free primary and secondary education,” he noted.
The press conference was attended by key stakeholders, including the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, other Assembly members, and top government officials. Soludo praised the Anambra State Assembly for passing what he described as “progressive” and “forward-thinking” laws aimed at securing the future of public service in the state.
This new law, he affirmed, would protect the gains made in fiscal transparency and financial sustainability, ensuring the state continues to rank among the top in governance and public sector efficiency in Nigeria.
