The National Legal Adviser of the Anambra State Town Unions Council (ASTUC), Chimezie Obi, Esq., has commended the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, over the proposed bill for the establishment of Community Administrations and the recognition of Town Unions as the fourth tier of government.
Obi described the initiative as a visionary and potentially transformative step towards strengthening grassroots governance and accelerating development across communities in Anambra State.
In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, on Wednesday, 2nd Sept, 2026, the ASTUC National Legal Adviser said the proposed legislation demonstrated the governor’s commitment to creating structures that would bring governance and development closer to the people.
According to him, effective leadership should not be limited to governance from the state capital but should deliberately create channels through which the dividends of good governance could reach communities and rural areas.
Obi noted that communities remained the closest units of social organisation and development, as they were where people lived, raised their families, confronted developmental challenges and participated directly in matters affecting their daily lives.
He said Town Unions had, over the years, played significant roles in mobilising citizens and promoting community development across Anambra State.
According to him, Town Unions had contributed to the development of schools, healthcare initiatives, infrastructure projects, peace and security, while also connecting communities with their indigenes living in different parts of Nigeria and the diaspora.
He, however, observed that the absence of a comprehensive statutory framework clearly defining the position and responsibilities of Town Unions within the broader structure of governance had created challenges over the years.
Obi said the proposed legislation presented an opportunity to provide clearer institutional structures for community administration and development.
He explained that the proposed framework could help clearly define the respective responsibilities of traditional institutions, particularly Ndi Igwe, and Town Union leadership led by Presidents-General and their executive structures.
The ASTUC legal adviser maintained that traditional rulers remained indispensable custodians of the culture, customs and heritage of their communities, while Town Unions had continued to serve as major instruments of organised community development and grassroots administration.
He said a clear definition and mutual respect for the roles of both institutions would promote harmony and help reduce unnecessary conflicts and struggles over authority within communities.
Obi also expressed optimism that the proposed Community Administration framework would strengthen the relationship between Town Unions and Local Government Areas.
He said the initiative could establish stronger institutional channels for development planning, project implementation, data collection and coordination between communities and government institutions.
The ASTUC National Legal Adviser further said the proposal reflected Soludo’s commitment to ensuring that the dividends of purposeful leadership and development extended beyond Awka, local government headquarters and urban centres to villages, towns and communities.
According to him, that represented the true spirit of grassroots governance.
Obi added that a properly structured Community Administration system could strengthen accountability by clearly assigning responsibilities and enabling communities to monitor development projects, demand transparency and evaluate outcomes.
He also highlighted the potential benefits of the proposed framework for women, young people and Anambra indigenes in the diaspora.
According to him, communities across the state possessed enormous human and material resources which could be better harnessed through a properly structured and inclusive legal framework for community development.
The ASTUC official said he was particularly excited about the potential of the initiative to strengthen community-level security, planning and development.
He noted that government could not effectively develop every community from a distance without strong and functional grassroots structures.
According to Obi, communities must become active partners in identifying their needs, setting development priorities and participating in the implementation of solutions.
He described the proposed legislation as more than an administrative restructuring, saying it represented a deliberate effort to deepen democracy, decentralise development and bring governance closer to the people.
“As the National Legal Adviser of the Anambra State Town Unions Council, I believe that this proposed legislation presents a historic opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to work together towards developing a framework that respects our traditional institutions, strengthens Town Unions, promotes accountability and ultimately serves the best interests of our people,” Obi said.
He therefore saluted Soludo for what he described as a bold and visionary initiative aimed at creating a more responsive and effective system of governance at the community level.
Obi said the initiative would help ensure that the benefits of purposeful leadership and sustainable development reached the grassroots of Anambra State.
He maintained that the strength and development of Anambra depended largely on the strength of its communities.
According to him, when communities are properly organised, empowered and meaningfully integrated into the development process, the state as a whole would become stronger.
Obi said the proposed Community Administration framework represented an important and promising step towards sustainable grassroots development in Anambra State.