The Zonal Vice President, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) South West, Prince Adele Adewale Taofeek has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the state governors to respect the position of the law on financial autonomy for state legislatures as stipulates in the Constitution.
Prince Adele Taofeek made the call at a press briefing held in Ibadan on Thursday to appraise the state of the union and avail the general public their position on the quest for of financial autonomy for State Legislature.
He said the development became imperative 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 (GCFR) to prevail on the State Governors to respect the position of the law on financial autonomy for State Legislatures as stipulates in the Constitution.
“We, the stakeholders of PASAN SOUTHWEST ZONE led by the Zonal Vice President, National Treasurer, Chairmen and Secretaries of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo State Chapters converged today the 7th day of March,2024 at Oyo State House of Assembly to appraise the state of the Union and avail the general public our position on the quest for of financial autonomy for State Legislature.
“Going down memory lane, you will recall that in November 2023, workers under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) across the country embarked on a nationwide strike to demand for the immediate implementation of legislative financial autonomy for the State Legislatures.”
He said the industrial action which lasted for three weeks was suspended following a jointly signed MOU by the Chairmen of the Conference of the Speakers and Nigeria Governors Forum, with high expectations that the legislative financial autonomy for the state legislatures would take effect across the country by 28th February, 2024.
He pointed out that 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 year 2024 budget estimates.
“The MOU partly read 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.
“It is disheartening to note that despite the luxury of time provided by the MOU, legislative financial autonomy for the state legislature is yet be granted by the Governors’.
He said the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria South West Zone sincerely commend the Governor of Benue State Rev. Hycathin Alia who recently assented the legislative fund management law.
“This laudable gesture of Benue State Governor bear testament to the fact that he’s indeed a democrat who is so passionate about upholding and strengthening the principle of separation of power among the three arms of government in the state. There is no doubt he has written his name on the sand of time and history will forever be kind to him.”
He noted that the ultimatum giving for the implementation of legislative financial autonomy has expired according to the signed agreement with no positive response from the State Governors except for Benue.
“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).
“We are optimistic that the implementation of full legislative financial autonomy will strengthen the State Houses of Assembly Service Commission, enhance the career progression of the legislative staff and also resolve issues like non-remittance of legislative staff monthly deductions like cooperative and pension deductions, non-payment of legislative staff wardrobe allowance, non-implementation of Conless as well as other germane issues bothering on the welfare of the Parliamentary Staffers across the federation.
“To avert another strike which could cripple Legislative ,across the nation at this critical economic period, we respectfully call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Gcfr) to prevail on the State Governors to respect the position of the law on financial autonomy for State Legislatures as stipulates in the Constitution.
“While we are awaiting further directive from the national secretariat of our union on the next line of action, it is pertinent to state that members of the ZEC of PASAN SOUTH WEST will stand firm to vehemently resist any attempt to subvert the quest for the implementation of legislative financial autonomy.”
