Soludo Rejects Local Government Autonomy, Supports Single Term for Elected Officeholders

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has voiced his support for a single term for elected officeholders while rejecting the idea of local government autonomy, stating it contradicts the principles of true federalism. Speaking at The Platform Democracy Day programme in Lagos on June 12, 2024, Soludo emphasized his stance amidst growing national debate.

Addressing the audience at the event themed “Democracy and the Free Market Economy,” Soludo, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2004 to 2009, proposed a single-chamber National Assembly as a measure to address the country’s declining revenue.

Single Term for Politicians

“Sometimes, these conversations about single term might begin to make some sense so that you fix it, whether you say four years or five years, six years, seven years, single term,” Soludo remarked. He highlighted the challenges of governance influenced by impending elections, suggesting that a fixed single term could allow politicians to focus on governance rather than re-election.

Rejection of Local Government Autonomy

Contrary to the increasing calls for local government autonomy, including support from President Bola Tinubu, Soludo argued against it, claiming it would undermine true federalism. He asserted, “There is no federal system in the world where you have three federal units. The counties in America, where we copied democracy, don’t go to the centre to collect money directly. Each state must have the power to design the kind of local government system they want.”

Advocating Fiscal Restructuring

Soludo advocated for significant fiscal restructuring, urging the federal government to devolve many responsibilities under the Exclusive List to states and increase their revenue allocation. “We need to tinker with the fiscal powers of the federal and state governments, devolve much of the responsibilities under the Exclusive List to the states, and allocate about 60 to 65 percent of the revenues to the states,” he stated.

He also proposed consolidating the National Assembly into a single body with no more than five representatives per state, arguing that the current structure, costing over N300bn annually, is unnecessary.

Economic Challenges and Solutions

Addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, Soludo acknowledged that President Tinubu inherited significant economic problems but emphasized the need for decisive action. “We are now suffering the consequences of delayed adjustments,” he noted, calling on Tinubu to mobilize Nigerians to address the fiscal issues plaguing the nation.

Soludo warned against printing more money to solve economic problems, citing the risk of spiraling inflation. He underscored the importance of addressing the fiscal quagmire and solvency issues to secure a better future for Nigeria