About two weeks ago, the Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Agency- ASWAMA, Engr. Mike Ozoemena, in a live radio broadcast, announced increase in waste collection rates. The announcement immediately became a major talking point across Anambra’s public spaces. Many people wondered why ASWAMA should be talking about waste levy when they have not been able to evacuate waste littered all over street corners and at some major spots, across the state. Yet, the agency remained resolute in its decision.
The announcement, it would be recalled, only added to the growing concern about the current administration’s drive for more revenue, which then appears as if it is being pursued at all costs with the risk of pitching the people against the new administration. From that time till now, ASWAMA maintained its ground. Although it is clear that collecting the waste levy will be a challenge. As of now, it is not known if any resident of the state has paid the new rate to the agency. However, what was unknown to the people was that the MD of the Agency had arbitrarily fixed the new rates, which made his pronouncements illegal, and puts him forward as a law breaker. In truth, the scenario is worst than merely breaking the law. What the MD of ASWAMA did was to assign the powers of the Legislature to himself and then went on to make a new law, fixing new rates, at will.
Until yesterday when Hon. Nonso Okafor moved a motion of urgent importance, during which time he called the attention of his colleagues and indeed, ndi Anambra, to the illegality that had been perfected by MD of ASWAMA, the man nearly got away with such heavily scandalous offence, that has serious dent on our laws and government institution. The implication is; if an MD of a government agency established by law, can wake up and start writing his own law and doing his own bidding without the establishing law of the agency, that calls for a sober reflection. It is not an oversight. What if Nonso did not search out the provisions of the law?
How embarrassing would this have been if it was challenged in court a few years down the line!
Hon. Nonso Okafor’s vigilance has saved Anambra State residents from being taken on an illegal ride. The ASWAMA law of 2015 was consulted by Hon. Nonso and thereupon discovered that the Mr. Mike Ozoemena, ASWAMA MD, was merely acting on his own without the backing of the law that established his agency. By this action, Nonso showed that as a legislator, he is dutiful in the discharge of his duties and therefore kept an eye on what’s important. How embarrassing would this have been if it was challenged in court a few years down the line! The House of Assembly was summarily rescued from such a huge embarrassing situation. Anambra residents and businesses were also saved from the burdens of illegal levies imposed by the MD of ASWAMA.
It is important to observe that law making is a vigilant business. And the people must reckon with those who knows the job and does it, like Nonso Okafor, to go and do it.
Ahead of 2023 General Elections, the people must send only competent people to the National Assembly in their own best interests. Those who can do the job should be elected to go do it, without sentiments.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
