Pidgin Corner
Naija federalism and Soludo call for flexibility By Christian Aburime
Recently, pipo don dey talk plenty about Naija federal structure and Local Government mata, as e don dey hot from both lawmaking and court decisions.
Di main gist wey dey ground na Local Government autonomy, wey dey make plenty pipo get strong feelings for am across di kontri.
Anambra State, unda Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, don join di discussion wit two important laws wey di Anambra State House of Assembly pass for 2024.
Di Anambra State Economic Planning and Development Law and di Anambra State Local Government Administration Law.
While some critics don raise concern about how these laws fit align wit di recent Supreme Court judgment and di push for Local Government autonomy, Governor Soludo get clear vision.
Dese laws dey progressive and dem designed to make governance beta for di grassroots witout going against di Supreme Court ruling.
Governor Soludo, as person wey sabi economics well and federalism, don dey support competitive federalism for Naija for long.
“For a kontri wey complex like Naija, wit im multi-ethnic and multi-religious makeup, to use one straight method for Local Government mata go no work well.”
“For dis mata, Governor Soludo dey talk say state flexibility dey important for how dem go fit determine di structure and makeup of dia Local Governments.”
“E dey cite constitutional provisions, wey show say Section 7 of di 1999 Constitution clearly give state governments di power to set up, structure, and fund Local Governments through laws wey dem pass for dia state assemblies.”
“Dis provision, for di governor eye, show say di framers of di constitution don make compromise, wey dem sabi di different realities wey dey across Naija 36 states.”
“E good make we note say Anambra no dey alone for dis constitutional power mata.”
“States like Lagos, as early as 2004, don set example by passing laws wey redefine di structure of Local Government to fit dia own unique situations.”
“Similarly, states like Ebonyi don tailor dia local governance systems to fit di needs of dia communities.”
“Dis action dey show say di structure and makeup of Local Governments no suppose dey di same across Naija but rather reflect each state own peculiarities.”
For Governor Soludo, di idea of “absolute financial autonomy” for Local Governments dey problematic.
E bi like say him prefer collaborative framework wey Local Governments go dey work closely wit di state to deliver development and services well.
So, di current push for full financial autonomy no dey correct, as e dey overlook di need for synergy bitiwn di two levels of government.
True autonomy dey for di ability to plan and execute policies wey dey relevant to di local realities, rather than just dey focus on financial independence, wey fit lead to fragmentation and inefficiency.
Di recent laws wey dem pass for Anambra dey reflect dis philosophy.
Di Anambra State Economic Planning and Development Law dey designed to create beta framework for economic development across all levels of government.
Making sure say Local Governments dey important players for di state development agenda.
Di Local Government Administration Law similarly dey aim to enhance di capacity of Local Governments to deliver on dia mandates, while maintaining close working relationship wit di state government.
Dis on com means say, Governor Soludo position for Naija evolving federalism na di reflection of im broader vision for di kontri.
him belief in di power of cooperative federalism wey dey grounded for di reality say Naija diversity need flexibility and adaptation, no be rigid adherence to one uniform model of local governance.
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