By Adadainfo
The Anambra State House of Assembly has suspended the new levy introduced by the state Waste Management Authority, ASWAMA, with immediate effect.
The resolution was passed following a matter of urgent public importance. The member representing Nnewi North constituency, Mr Smart Okafor, moved the motion.
They unanimously resolved that the managing director of ASWAMA be summoned to appear before the House to explain why he violated the state policy on waste charges enacted in 2015.
Mr Okafor described the new levies as ‘arbitrary against the people of the state’. According to him, the agency’s new managing director went contrary to the existing provisions of the law and introduced exorbitant rates without legal instruments.
He said the new rate, which is two times higher than previous ones, was an embarrassment to Gov Charles Soludo, who, according to him, might be unaware of the development.
Mr Lawrence Ezeudu, representing Dunukofia Constituency, who supported the motion, said it was the duty of the legislature to protect the interest of the people through the laws.
According to him, the new levy launched by the agency ‘is totally against the provisions of the law establishing the agency’.
The speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, said the agency’s boss would be invited to explain to the people why he decided to come up with a new rate outside what the law stipulated in the schedule that established the agency.
The House therefore resolved that the new levy be immediately suspended while the ASWAMA boss appear before it on October 27.
