Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all 21 local government transition committee chairmen in the state.
The governor has instructed the outgoing chairmen to transfer their duties to the Heads of Local Government Administrations by Monday, May 20.
This decision was announced in a letter signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne.
The letter, dated May 17, stated: “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to hand over the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration in your respective Local Government Councils.”
The letter further emphasized, “This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
There has been public pressure on Governor Soludo to conduct local government elections in the state. Last week, he directed party stakeholders to nominate candidates for the new transition committees.
The governor specified that the nominations should include at least one woman from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
The directive was communicated by the special adviser to the governor on political matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu. It read: “The party stakeholders in each Local Government are expected to meet on May 18th or 19th, 2024, to consider and recommend for his consideration, three persons for the position of TC Chairman and three persons for Local Government Education Secretaries. The three recommendations for Transition Committee Chairmen shall include at least one woman; while the three recommendations for Education Secretary shall be two women and one man.”
Anambra State has frequently utilized transition committees instead of elected local government officials. The last local government election was conducted by former Governor Peter Obi, shortly before his term ended.
Opposition parties and stakeholders have been advocating for local government elections, arguing that the use of transition committee chairmen undermines the local government system.
