Legislative workers, under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Southwest Zone, have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on state governors to respect the position of the Law on financial autonomy for state legislatures, as stipulated in the Constitution.
The Association said the call became imperative in a bid to avert another strike which could cripple legislative duties across the nation, particularly at the present critical economic period.
The Zonal body made the appeal on Thursday during a press conference, shortly after the Zonal Executive Council (ZEC) meeting held at the Western Hall, House of Assembly Complex, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The meeting was attended by the Zonal Vice President, Prince Adewale Adele; National Treasurer, Comrade Gbenga Oluwajuyigbe; chairmen and secretaries of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo state branches, among other leaders.
The parliamentary workers across the country had embarked on a nationwide strike in November 2023, to demand for the immediate implementation of legislative financial autonomy for state legislatures.
The industrial action, which lasted for three weeks, was suspended following a jointly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the chairmen of the Conference of Speakers and the Nigeria Governors Forum to the effect that legislative financial autonomy for the state legislatures would take effect across the country by 28th February 2024.
The Zonal Vice President said it was disheartening that despite the luxury of time provided by the MoU, legislative financial autonomy for the state legislature is yet to be granted by the governors.
He commended the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Hycathin Alia, who recently assented to the Legislative Fund Management Law.
He noted that the laudable gesture of the Benue State Governor bears testament to the fact that he is a Democrat who is passionate about upholding and strengthening the principle of separation of power among the three arms of government in the state.
Adele said: “The suspension of the industrial action then was in view of the confidence the Association reposed in the negotiators and also in consideration of the essential roles of the legislative arm in the budget process as states prepare for Y2024 budget estimates. The MoU partly reads that PASAN is at liberty to resume its strike if the governors renege on the agreement to implement legislative financial autonomy after the expiration of the ultimatum.
“The ultimatum given for the implementation of the legislative financial autonomy has expired according to the signed agreement with no positive response from the state governors except for Benue. Consequently, the Association considers the non-compliance of the Nigeria Governors Forum with the MoU as a breach of trust and a grave violation of section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” he lamented.
The Zonal Vice President expressed optimism that the implementation of full legislative financial autonomy will strengthen the state Houses of Assembly Service Commission, enhance the career progression of legislative staff and also resolve issues like non-remittance of legislative staff monthly deductions e.g cooperative and pension deductions, non-payment of legislative staff wardrobe allowance, non-implementation of CONLESS as well as other germane issues bordering on the welfare of parliamentary staffers across the federation.
He stated: “To avert another strike which could cripple legislative activities across the nation at this critical economic period, we respectfully call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the state governors to respect the position of the law on financial autonomy for state legislatures as stipulated in the constitution.”
Adele disclosed that while awaiting further directives from the national secretariat of the union on the next line of action, the members of the ZEC of PASAN Southwest will stand firm to vehemently resist any attempt to subvert the quest for the implementation of legislative financial autonomy.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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