The member representing Awka South Constituency I in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Henry Mbachu, has protested the non-inclusion of allocation for the conduct of local government elections in the 2024 budget.
Governor Soludo presented a N410 billion budget to members of the assembly on Tuesday.
Mbachu’s protests may not be unconnected to the campaign promise made by Soludo before his election in 2021, where he promised to conduct council polls.
Speaking at the plenary on Wednesday, he said: “Going through the budget estimate presented, it is glaring that there are no intentions of conducting LGA elections next year.
“On page 475, the budget for the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission for this current year was N89,120,000, while the projected estimate for the incoming year is N129,120,000.
“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 a lack of local government elections.
“Local government, as the third tier of government, is the bedrock of governance. Leadership and political tutelage are heavily mounted on this tier of government and should be upheld accordingly. If this can be wishfully considered, I’ll be glad. For now, the budget can go for a second reading.”
