Nigeria: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Calls for Withholding of Local Government Funds Over Governors’ Misconduct
As the 2024 local government elections draw near, the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a statement calling on President Bola Tinubu to withhold funds meant for local governments in Nigeria due to the alleged arm-twisting of local government chairmen by state governors. According to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, this is an egregious affront to democratic principles and the rightful autonomy of local government councils across the country.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said that the governors of the federation have colluded to subvert resources meant for the upliftment and development of grassroots communities. He added that this is a direct assault on the dignity and rights of the Nigerian populace, and that it degrades cherished democracy.
Isiguzoro also expressed his disappointment at the recent passage of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, which he believes is another example of a legislative madness aimed at circumventing Supreme Court decisions. He urged Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to withdraw this bill and warned that signing it into law could irreparably damage his prospects for re-election in the 2025 gubernatorial elections.
In an effort to protect local governance and ensure that federal allocations are used for their intended purpose, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is urging President Tinubu to take decisive action by withholding local government allocations from any state that persists in these unlawful practices starting from October 2024.
In its statement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasized the importance of respecting the autonomy of local government councils, saying that they should be protected from the grasp of governors seeking to exploit them for personal or partisan gain. The organization believes that a Nigeria where federal allocations designated for local governance are protected is not only possible but also essential for the country’s development.
