The Anambra State Executive Council, ANSEC, has approved the review of the state’s Electricity Law to tackle energy theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure across the state.
The decision was reached during the State Executive Council meeting held at the Light House in Awka.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.
According to Mefor, the proposed amendment will introduce stiffer penalties, including heavier fines and longer terms of imprisonment for persons involved in energy theft and the vandalisation of electricity infrastructure such as transformers and cables.
He said the measure is aimed at protecting public assets, ensuring that electricity consumers pay only for the energy they consume and discouraging activities that disrupt power supply across the state.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the state government is finalising a bill seeking to establish Community Administrations as the fourth tier of government in Anambra State.
Mefor said the proposed Community Administrations would have clearly defined responsibilities and dedicated budgets, with the aim of deepening grassroots governance and accelerating development at the community level.
He explained that the initiative would also enable the state government and local government areas to focus more on broader strategic responsibilities.
Meanwhile, ANSEC has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the payment of salaries for 3,500 teachers deployed to mission-returned schools across the state.
Mefor recalled that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration recruited 8,115 teachers for primary and secondary schools during his first tenure, with 3,500 deployed to mission-returned schools.
The Commissioner further said the Council resolved to maintain and strictly enforce minimum regulatory standards in the education and health sectors.
He warned that schools and health facilities that fail to meet the prescribed requirements would continue to face closure as part of the state government’s efforts to maintain standards and improve service delivery.
