Pharm. Klinsmann, a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a strong plea in response to the controversial signing of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024 by Governor Charles Soludo. Klinsmann, along with several legal and policy experts, views the new law as a direct challenge to the autonomy of local governments as affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In a press statement released today, Klinsmann warned that allowing Soludo’s actions to stand could set a dangerous precedent, potentially inviting other state governors to undermine the progress made in granting full autonomy to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. He emphasized, “If Soludo’s scheme succeeds, we will be back to square one, and local governments will once again fall under the stranglehold of state governors.”
A Call to Action
Klinsmann has urged Nigerians to stand firm against any governor attempting to erode local government autonomy, characterizing such attempts as threats to the people’s welfare. “Any governor who seeks to contravene the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy is an enemy of the people, and should be treated as such,” he asserted.
He stressed that local government autonomy is critical to grassroots development and significantly impacts the daily lives of citizens. Klinsmann urged Nigerians to be prepared to protest en masse, emphasizing that the autonomy of local governments is essential to resolving many of Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Upholding the Supreme Court’s Ruling
Klinsmann reminded Governor Soludo that regardless of how “clever” his legal arguments may appear, the Supreme Court’s judgment is final and binding. He pointed to the July 2024 ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, which asserted that local governments must receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation without interference from state governments. This ruling deemed the longstanding practice of withholding or controlling local government funds through joint accounts as illegal and unconstitutional.
He declared that no state law, including the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, can supersede the Supreme Court’s judgment, labeling Soludo’s law as “ultra vires” and a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling. “Soludo’s action is nothing short of impunity. It is a calculated attempt to weaken the financial independence of Anambra’s local governments, and it must be resisted at all costs,” Klinsmann asserted.
The Implications of the Supreme Court Ruling
Pharm. Klinsmann elaborated on the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which recognized the financial autonomy of local governments. The Court’s decision concluded that state governors can no longer control or receive funds allocated to local governments and nullified the joint state-local government accounts historically used by governors to siphon off local government funds. He reiterated that the ruling aims to promote justice, efficiency, and accountability within local governance.
Additionally, Klinsmann pointed out that the Supreme Court also declared the appointment of caretaker committees by state governors to manage local governments as unconstitutional. The ruling underscored the necessity for local governments to be governed by democratically elected officials, rather than political appointees serving at the discretion of state governors.
In summary, Pharm. Klinsmann’s call to action serves as a rallying cry for Nigerians to defend local government autonomy against perceived governmental overreach. His arguments reinforce the importance of upholding the Supreme Court’s ruling to ensure that local governments can operate independently and effectively, thus fostering grassroots development and enhancing the lives of citizens across Nigeria.