“Autonomy of State Legislature will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy” – Speaker Plateau State

The Speaker, Plateau State Assembly, Mr Abok Ayuba says that the full implementation of autonomy of state legislature will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy as well as other institutions.

Ayuba who is also the  Vice-Chairman North Central, Conference of Speakers Forum in an interview with Voice of Nigeria at the sideline of the meeting of the Association of Conference of Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly in Abuja, emphasised that to build a truly democratic society, the effectiveness, independence and integrity of the legislature must be entrenched

He said this will also allow state legislatures to carry out their respective constitutional duties without fear of dominance or marginalization.

Speaking further he said that “Well if you are not autonomous it is just like a son being under his father wings. It is not easy to make decisions on your own and when it comes to little resources that have always been the challenge.“

Mr Ayuba noted despite that the challenges faced the  Speakers Forum has made progress on the issue.

“We were with the Chief of Staff of the President and the Governors said they have no problem with autonomy and of course we believe them because we came from the same place and everybody will want those institutions to be strengthened, and when I say institutions, we have the Judiciary, Legislative and we have the executive.

“We always argue with the governors and of course we always face so many problems but now that the autonomy is coming”

“it is going to strengthen the entire institutions and of course, people are going to be free because the legislators are the representatives of the people from the grass root and if you do not have the autonomy you may not have the capacity and freedom to pass the message because sometimes the fear of using some certain advantages of the executive,“ the speaker emphasised.

On the issue of the Not Too Young To Run initiative, he commended President Muhammad Buhari for signing the bill into law which has given opportunities for youth representation in politics, governance and decision-making process in Nigeria

He said “This is the first time and the first administration that youth will be given the opportunity to contribute their own quota to the development of the country”

“I won my election when I was thirty-two and I won speaker at thirty-two and you know it is very difficult in Nigeria and  of course it is because of the bill that was passed by the National Assembly and given assent by the President, so the president is a lover of Youth,“ Ayuba noted

The speaker further stated, “We are four in number, now we are five let me say because we just got one in Gombe, myself, Oyo, Kwara, Zamfara then recently Gombe, we are five in number now the speakers, we have even youth less than thirty.”

He said the forum is putting in place modalities to encourage more participation of youths in politics by engaging stakeholders

“Youths are beginning to come up and of course all we all need is training for the sustenance of democracy and of course training us to be better leaders in the future.

“We have asked YIAGA Africa to continue to help discuss with INEC and some of the platforms just like women they should reduce the price of the cost of forms so that youth can afford.

“So that they would join and I equally always ask the youths not to be lazy and always come up with initiative sit down to think of what you will do, find the little resources you have, Just don’t sit down, continue to the campaign go to the grass root,“ he added.

According to him, the Plateau State Government in North-Central Nigeria is in support of women affirmation in political participation in the State adding that women in Plateau State have held several key positions in government in politics

The Speaker said that the present administration in the State understands the role of women and is encouraging more participation of women in politics and governance.

“If women are not carried along in Plateau State the Minister would not be a Minister, her name was nominated by the people of Plateau State, that should show you that we have the interest of women in the Plateau State,“ he added.

PIAK