Delta, other state assemblies shutdown as unions battle 36 governors over financial autonomy for legislature
Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) have blamed Nigerian governors for the non-implementation of the financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature in the country.
Emma Edozien, chairman of PASAN in Delta state spoke to Emerald News at the weekend. He told the online medium that towards the end of last year, President Muhammadu Buhari issued an executive order on the implementation of the law, granting financial autonomy to the three arms of government.
But as soon as the order was given for the implementation, the governor’s forum moved to the presidency, claiming there was a grey area in the decision which according to the forum needed some review, hence it was hijacked by the governors and it has never seen the light of day.
When this online medium visited the Delta State House of Assembly, the gate was under lock and key while executives of PASAN, led by Edozien were seen seated opposite the gate under a mango tree, in a form of parliamentary session.
They were playing music, drinking and enjoying away themselves. They are angry that the Nigerian governors forum has refused to allow the legislature which is supposed to be the first arm of government have its autonomy.
This is just the way the governors are blocking the autonomy of the local government councils across the nation.
Edozien told Emerald News that the Nigerian constitution makes provision for the financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary, just as the executive. But the Nigerian governors forum is doing all it could to block the autonomy from coming to fruition.
The PASAN chairman said: “The governors forum is not cooperating with the federal government to implement the financial autonomy. It is a constitutional provision. But the governors are against it. They do not want the legislature to be independent.
“Three years ago, there was a constitutional amendment for the judiciary and legislature to have financial autonomy. But they have refused to implement it. A committee was set up which was headed by the Nigerian attorney general. They moved round the entire country and secured the number to allow them to do the amendment.
“They have done their job and submitted to the presidency, towards the end of last year, the president issued executive order 10. As soon as it was issued, chairman of the governor’s forum went to Abuja, after discussing with the president , they said there are grey areas which needed some review. And that has been the problem till now.”
He told our reporter that all the 36 states houses of assembly are shut down, noting that some.members of PASAN are cooking in front of their gates while some others are playing draft.
He said the strike will remain indefinite until the Nigerian governnora forum which is the hindrance to the implementation gives way
