By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The member representing Awka South I at Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu has kicked against governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration refusal to appropriate for conduct of Local Government election in the 2024 budget estimate of N410 billion.
Mbachu, who read through the estimate presented before the Assembly yesterday, explained that page 475 of the budget for Anambra State independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) showed that N89,120,000.00 was budgeted in 2023 while the projected estimate for the incoming year (2024) is ₦229,120,000.00.
"You find out that there's no feasibility or readiness for Local Government Elections for the incoming year. I worry so much because this tier of government has suffered so much because of lack of Local Government Election.
"Local Government as the 3rd tier of government is the bedrock of governance. Leadership and political tutelage is heavily mounted on this tier of government and should be upheld thus. If this can be wishfully considered I'll be glad. For now, the budget can go for 2nd reading," he stated.
Factcheckng recalled that governor Soludo who was sworn-in on March 2022 had promised to conduct LG election within two years in office which would be next year (2024). However, none provision of it in the estimate submitted by the governor, including non constitution of ANSIEC board is a clear evidence that the LG poll will not hold in 2024.