The Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State has dismissed claims by some traders that certain levies and fines were imposed on them by the Council, describing the allegation as not only false but also baseless.
According to the statement signed by the Council Secretary, Mr Paul Onuachalla, the petition to Governor Charles Soludo and the state Assembly is both inconsistent and incoherent, adding that it is a plot to malign the reputation of the Mayor Chief Emeka Joseph Orji and the Council
“The allegations are inconsistent and incoherent”
“On the one hand, they attack the anti–sit-at-home stance of Onitsha South Local Government, which is in furtherance of state policy; on the other hand, they call on the State Government to intervene. They are thus attempting to approbate and reprobate at the same time”
“In any event, the so-called petitioners appear to take issue with the implementation of the State Government’s directives regarding the refusal to open markets and/or shops on Mondays, as well as the ongoing re-validation of stalls”
“For completeness, pursuant to the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 4 of the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, Onitsha South Local Government is the regulator of all markets within its Council area.”
“It cannot abdicate its regulatory functions under any guise. Furthermore, Onitsha South Local Government is under a legal obligation to ensure strict implementation of the State Government’s policies and directives regarding the Monday sit-at-home order”
Onuachalla explained that though the Council, by law, is a regulatory body, it never imposed any levy or fine on the traders, adding that there is an existing law of the state government against the obstruction of the duties of council staff, but not made by the Council.
“More importantly, Onitsha South Local Government is statutorily empowered to enforce the law strictly and to impose fines where individuals or groups disobey or obstruct its officials in the
performance of their lawful duties.
In the present case, the opening of shops in Council-regulated markets on Mondays is mandatory. Section 10 of the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, outlines fines as a source of revenue. See also Section 104 of the same law, which prescribes a fine of ₦200,000.00 or three months’ imprisonment for obstruction offences”
“Contrary to the false impression created, the Council has not imposed any fines nor revoked any shop allocations in its regulated markets”
He also noted that in line with the enforcement of the anti-Sit At Home Order, those who refused to open shops face consequences in the eyes of the law.
“However, those who refuse to obey Local Government officials’ instructions to open shops in Council-regulated markets are guilty of obstruction under Section 104 above, and the applicable fine is ₦200,000.00—not ₦50,000.00”
“With respect to the ongoing re-validation exercise, this initiative was inherited by the present administration led by Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji”
“The idea was conceived and implemented by the former Onitsha South Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) caretaker committee in conjunction with market union leaders.”
The present administration allowed the initiative to continue on the basis that the government is a continuum. “More importantly, the re-validation exercise is of mutual benefit to all stakeholders”, he said.
