The Anambra State Government has thrown its weight behind a Supreme Court ruling against the creation of autonomous communities in the state, urging those advocating for new autonomous communities to abandon the agitation and focus on unity and development.
The position was reached at the 16th meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), held at the Light House, Awka, where the Council also approved projects and deliberated on key issues affecting the state.
ANSEC aligned with the apex court’s position, noting that the creation of additional autonomous communities could fragment existing large communities and trigger confusion and conflicts.
The Council, therefore, advised proponents of autonomous communities to respect the Supreme Court judgement and channel their energies towards uniting and developing their communities within their existing boundaries.
On education, the Council dismissed reports that the state government was planning to reclaim mission-returned schools, describing such reports as fake news and reiterating that there was no such plan.
However, ANSEC expressed concern over the poor standards of operation in some mission-returned primary schools, noting that the schools had been voluntarily returned to their respective missions.
The Council also disclosed that several primary schools across the state were undergoing renovation under a counterpart-funding arrangement between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government.
To improve the quality of education, ANSEC resolved to establish minimum operational standards for both public and private primary schools in the state, warning that schools that fail to meet the prescribed requirements would be shut down.
The Council further disclosed that the state government had recruited 8,115 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, with 3,500 deployed to mission-returned schools. The government, it said, continues to pay the salaries and emoluments of the deployed teachers.
Meanwhile, ANSEC received a satisfactory update on preparations for the Onwa Dezemba programme, which will feature Christmas carols, musical performances, decorations at strategic locations, cultural displays and other festive activities.
The programme is designed to welcome Ndi Anambra and their friends home for the yuletide and provide them with a memorable festive experience.
The Council also received an update on the Onitsha Main Market Regeneration Project, expressing confidence that the project remained on course for completion within the December deadline.
The regeneration initiative, being undertaken by the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, is aimed at restoring the market’s master plan, improving its image and repositioning it to enhance its reputation as a major commercial hub.
