Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has once again demonstrated his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s federalism through the passage of two significant laws—Anambra State Economic Planning and Development Law, 2024 and Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024. These laws are aimed at restructuring the local government system in line with the Constitution and the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, which has stirred national debate.
Governor Soludo’s position reflects his advocacy for competitive federalism and collaboration across different tiers of government. He argues that no local government can thrive in absolute autonomy without the support of state governments, as mandated by the Constitution. Soludo sees the Supreme Court’s ruling as an opportunity to enhance transparency and foster collaboration between states and local governments, particularly in resource allocation and management.
In his speech, Soludo emphasizes that the new laws do not undermine local government autonomy but ensure a sustainable system where key services such as primary education, healthcare, and pension funds are uniformly managed across the state. By pooling resources, local governments in Anambra can avoid the chaotic disparities that full autonomy could create, such as unequal payment of teachers’ salaries or pension arrears. Under the new laws, local government councils will decide how to allocate a percentage of their revenues to a joint fund for common services, maintaining the balance between autonomy and collaboration.
Soludo also highlights the need for structured collaboration among all levels of government, drawing parallels with existing federal-state collaborations, such as in education and security. His administration’s reforms are aimed at creating lasting institutions that will ensure accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery at the grassroots level.
Anambra State’s proactive legislative efforts reflect a pragmatic approach to federalism, one that blends constitutional mandates with practical governance solutions. Governor Soludo’s reforms are poised to not only secure local government administration in Anambra but also serve as a model for other states grappling with the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s federal structure.
SIR PAUL NWOSU PhD
Editor-in-Chief
Anambra Times
