‘We need resources to reach grassroots’ — Soludo speaks on s’court judgment on LG financial autonomy

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, has reacted to the judgment of the supreme court granting financial autonomy to the local government councils.

On Thursday, the supreme court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.

The court also ordered that the government should withhold allocations of LGs governed by unelected officials appointed by the governors.

Soludo spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday shortly after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The governor said the apex court ruling is a welcome development, noting that local government autonomy resources should work for the people.

He said resources must reach people at the grassroots to feel the impact of the government.

“The supreme court is supreme, and once they have spoken, they have spoken. I understand the governors’ forum is meeting tonight to review this judgment,” the Anambra governor said.

I haven’t seen the document myself, but I believe we need resources to reach the grassroots and promote accountability in the utilisation of public resources at all levels.

Asked about Tinubu’s statement that only elected LG chairmen will access resources, Soludo acknowledged that Anambra state has not had local government elections in a while.

“I promised the people of Anambra that we would have local government elections in my inaugural speech. We’ve just passed the Independent Electoral Commission law of Anambra state and are putting together the institutions to organise that,” he said.

‘WE TAKE SUPREME COURT RULING IN GOOD FAITH’

On his part, Bassey Otu, governor of Cross Rivers, expressed support for the apex court’s judgment.

“Nigeria is a democratic country, and we know very well that President Tinubu and the renewed hope agenda is a democratic one,” he said.

“And I believe that the judgment is taken in very good faith. All Nigerians should be happy about it.

“I have not read the details of the judgment as passed. When we do, I believe that the application of it should add some pep to our local government administration.”