Decentralisation and Local Government Autonomy in Anambra State: Challenges and Prospects under the 1999 Constitution

This study investigates the challenges and prospects of local government autonomy in Anambra State under Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, examining how decentralisation policies have been implemented and subverted at the third tier of government. Local government autonomy remains a contentious issue in Nigeria's federal system, as state governments frequently interfere with the administrative and financial independence of councils. The study is anchored on Decentralisation Theory, particularly the frameworks of Cheema and Rondinelli, which distinguish between deconcentration, delegation, and devolution as forms of power transfer to subnational units. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised local government chairmen, councillors, civil servants, and community leaders in five selected local government areas of Anambra State. A sample of 300 respondents was drawn through stratified random sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that Anambra State government routinely withholds statutory allocations, manipulates caretaker committee appointments, and overrides council decisions, effectively reducing local governments to administrative appendages. The study also finds that the absence of a State/Local Government Joint Account reform and weak judicial oversight are structural factors enabling this subordination. It is concluded that meaningful decentralisation in Anambra State is constrained by constitutional ambiguities and political interference from the state executive. The study recommends constitutional amendments that guarantee financial autonomy for local governments, alongside independent auditing of the State/Local Government Joint Account.

Keywords: Decentralisation, local government autonomy, Anambra State, federalism, 1999 Constitution