Anambra state governor Charles Soludo has reacted to the Supreme Court Ruling which granted financial autonomy to Local Governments by saying governors will review the Supreme Court verdict
Soludo spoke on Thursday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja and described the verdict by the apex court as “great”.
“That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is the final authority and I am a democrat. I believe in the rule of law. And once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken. Tonight, I think the Governors Forum is meeting to review this,” he said.
According to him, the move will free up funds for local government areas and promote accountability.
Soludo re-echoed his resolve to conduct local government elections in the South-East state after years.
“When I was elected into office, that’s one of the things I promised our people [to conduct local government election] because in Anambra, I think the first local government election we had was in 1998.”
He said, “I promised the people of Anambra that we’re going to have local government election, and I stated that in my inaugural speech. We’ve just passed the Independent Electoral Commission Law of Anambra State and we’re putting together the institutions to be able to organize that. It is a promise I made and when I make a promise, I am serious about keeping it.”
In its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court mandated the Federal Government to begin immediate and direct payment of local government funds to the latter’s exclusive accounts.
The Supreme Court scolded the decades-long refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local governments.
President Bola Tinubu in the wake of the verdict said it will pave the way for more accountability.
LG Autonomy: Soludo Reacts Say Govs Will Review Supreme Court Verdict
