The Labour Party Caucus in the National Assembly has faulted ongoing moves by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to enact joint State and Local Government joint Account law.

Led by Senator Tony Nwoye, the caucus at a press briefing in Abuja, contended that the measure was in clear breach of the recent Supreme Court decision on Local Government financial autonomy.

The lawmakers called on the Speaker and members of the Anambra State House of Assembly to toe the path of honour by stopping forthwith further consideration of the obnoxious Executive bill for posterity’s sake.

The lawmakers argued that the provisions of the proposed Bill titled: ‘Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024’ currently at the Committee stage, are subservient to the landmark Supreme Court rulings and extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

They frowned at the provisions of Clauses 13, 14 to 20, among others, with a special focus on the ‘State, Joint Local Government Account’, ‘Local Government Consolidated Account’, ‘Local Government Consolidated Account’, ‘Consolidated Account Management Committee’, ‘Local Government Security Trust Account’, ‘Local Government Security Trust Account Committee’s, among other issues.

They also protested against the provisions of Clause 14 on ‘Local Government Consolidated Account, which stipulates that: “There shall be established, a Local Government Consolidated Account which shall be managed on behalf of the Local Government Areas in the State.

Nwoye who decried the ravaging insecurity situation across the State, queried the rationale for the proposed 20 percent deduction from the Federal Allocation to Local Government as proposed in the bill.

While urging Soludo to retrace his steps, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, Victor Ogene said: “While we are urging the Governor to do the needful by withdrawing the proposed bill that he has sent, we are also calling on members of Anambra State House of Assembly to be mindful of the judgement of history. People who sit over bad laws, obnoxious laws, also have their names written in infamy.

“They will not be on that seat forever. In our dear State, issues have come up even when Mr. Peter Obi was impeached. Many of those who sat and superintended over that still bear the burden of that criminality till this day.

“So, current members of the Anambra State House of Assembly should be mindful of their names, should be mindful of where they come from and that if they don’t render account to the people today, they will certainly do so in the future.”