The Anambra State Government has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling against the creation of autonomous communities in the state, agreeing with the apex court that such a move could splinter large communities and create confusion and conflict.
The government also advised those pushing for autonomous communities to abandon the idea in line with the Supreme Court judgment and channel their energies towards uniting and developing their communities as presently constituted.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor.
Mefor said the decisions, alongside other far-reaching resolutions, including the award of projects, were taken at the State Executive Council meeting held at the Light House, Awka, on Monday.
According to him, the state government also debunked reports that it was planning to reclaim mission-returned schools, reiterating that it had no such plan.
The statement read, “The State Executive Council welcomed the Supreme Court ruling against the creation of autonomous communities in Anambra State and aligned with the apex court that allowing it would splinter many large communities in the state and create confusion and conflict.
“Council advised those pushing for autonomous communities to perish the idea in line with the Supreme Court judgment and channel their energies to uniting and developing their communities as presently constituted.
“Council debunked fake news that government is planning to reclaim mission-returned schools, reiterating that government has no such plan.
“However, Council frowned at the poor standard in which some mission-returned primary schools are run and noted that these schools were voluntarily returned by government.
“It was also noted that many primary schools are currently under renovation as part of the counterpart-funding agreement between Anambra State and the Federal Government.
“Council resolved to establish irreducible minimum standards of operation for both private and public primary schools in the state, after which schools that fail to meet the standards will be shut down.”
Mefor said the state government had so far recruited 8,115 teachers for public primary and secondary schools and deployed 3,500 of them to mission-returned schools, while continuing to pay their salaries and emoluments.
**Onwa Dezemba, market regeneration**
Giving an update on the Onwa Dezemba programme, Mefor said the council received a satisfactory briefing on preparations for the event, with a focus on carols, musical performances, Christmas decorations at strategic locations, cultural festivities and other activities to welcome Ndi Anambra and their friends for the yuletide.
The statement added, “Council also received an update on the Onitsha Main Market Regeneration project and noted that it is on course to meet the December deadline.
“The regeneration embarked upon by the Soludo administration aims to restore the market’s master plan, image and reputation.”