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Tag: Financial Autonomy

  • Senate rejects immunity, life pension for presiding officers

    Senate rejects immunity, life pension for presiding officers

    The Senate has rejected immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly. They, however, approved financial autonomy for state legislatures, judiciary and local governments in the country.

    The approval came on Tuesday during voting on the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022.

    Senators during voting on the report rejected pension for presiding officers of the legislature.

    Out of a total number of 88 Senators registered to vote on the bill, 34 voted in support, and 53 against the bill.

    Also rejected were bills to override Presidential veto in Constitution Alteration; and to override Presidential veto in respect of ordinary money bills.

    The rejected bills require the mandatory four-fifth (votes of 88 Senators) and two-thirds majority (votes of 73 Senators) to pass, respectively.

    The bill on Procedure for Overriding Presidential Veto in Constitutional Alteration seeks to provide for the procedure for passing a constitution alteration bill where the President withholds assent.

    On the other hand, the bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution to provide the procedure for overriding executive veto in respect of money bills, seeks to provide for mode of exercising federal legislative power on money bills before the National Assembly.

    While 94 Senators registered to vote on the bill to override presidential veto in constitutional alteration, 79 lawmakers of the chamber voted in support and 15 against it. The bill fell short of the needed 88 votes (four-fifth requirement) to pass.

    On the bill to override presidential veto in respect of money bills, out of a total of 84 registered Senators, 44 voted in support, and 39 against the bill. The bill also fell short of the required two-thirds requirement (73 Senators) to pass.

    In addition, the Senate also rejected bills to provide for the Removal of Presiding Officers of the Legislature; and to Change the name of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State to “Gwol” Local Government Area.

  • Budget Defence: Reps C’ttee demands financial autonomy for AoUGF

    Budget Defence: Reps C’ttee demands financial autonomy for AoUGF

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Public Accounts Committee , PAC, of the House of Representatives has demanded for both administrative and financial autonomy for the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, OAuGF to enable it discharge its sensitive duties without fear or favour.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Busayo Oluwole Oke, (PDP-Osun) revealed this on Thursday at the 2022 Budget Defence exercise of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation .

    Oke who said that a bill being promoted by him before the House which had already passed the second reading lamented that caging the operations of the all important Office through financial and administrative control eroded transparency and accountability

    He cited instances such as when from the Auditor General’s Report, it was established that between 2013 and 2020, a sum of N7 trillion was expended from the service wide vote on the OAuGF, prastatals and agencies under it, without the Office of the Auditor General feeling any impact or having any knowledge of such expenditure.

    Oke nites that such a serious infraction on the part of the Executive arm of government that controls the vote would have been followed to its logical conclusion if the OAuGF had been autonomous in every aspect.

    The Committee Chaiman then advised the OAuGF to embark on intensive lobby to effect an increase in its annual budgetary allocations and assured that the committee would laise with the House Leadership with a view to placing the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation on the First Line Charge in budgetary funding

    He announced the constitution ofa 7-man sub committee, headed by Committee Deputy chairman with members drawn from the six geo-political zones in the country to work together with OAuGF office towards producing a tenable report that would expeditiously facilitate the direct funding of the office.

    Also, the Auditor-General of the Federation Mr Adolphus Aghughu had announced a proposed budget of N9.64 billion for the year 2022 if the Office must function optimally.

  • Why I will not enact bill for financial autonomy of judiciary in Rivers – Gov Wike

    Why I will not enact bill for financial autonomy of judiciary in Rivers – Gov Wike

    Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said the Rivers State government will not enact a bill for the financial autonomy of the State judiciary.

    Governor Wike maintained that it will be futile to bother the State Assembly with such a bill since the 1999 constitution as amended already recognises independence of the judiciary.

    Governor Wike made this assertion at the dinner in honour of delegates to the 61st annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, held at the banquet hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday night.

    The Governor noted that since Nigeria does not practice unitary system of government, it would be wrong for the Federal Government to issue directives to States on how they should run their affairs.

    “Nobody can force me on how my State will operate. Nobody can say send this bill to the legislature for judiciary autonomy. The constitution has already guaranteed that the judiciary must be independent and we have agreed on that.

    “Amendment had been done that the judiciary must be independent, and on first line charge. If I’m not obeying that, there is a sanction for it,” Wike said.

    The Governor explained that the State Government had released all 2021 capital expenditure due to the judiciary since September. He challenged the Federal Government to prove it has done same.

    Governor Wike urged the Federal Government to desist from playing to the gallery with the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    According to him, a Federal Government with decrepit High Court buildings across the country cannot truly claim it fully supports financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    “Are they giving the judiciary at the federal level the budget they are supposed to have in order to put the courts in order.”

    Governor Wike warned that the Rivers State government will resist any attempt by the Federal Government to deduct funds meant for the State under the guise of implementing financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    The Governor said the NBA cannot continue to be docile while security agencies are used by the Federal Government to intimidate and harass judges. According to him, “when the judiciary is destroyed, the legal profession is gone.”

    Governor Wike, also took a swipe at the past leadership of NBA for not protesting against the closure of courts in Rivers State for almost two years by the Governor Chibuike Amaechi led administration.

    He used the occasion to eulogise the Chairman of Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, Emeka Ngige (SAN) for endorsing the establishment of the Port Harcourt campus of the Nigerian Law School.

    The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani, charged the NBA to all time stand in defence of the interest of people of the country.

    The President, Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, SAN, commended Governor Wike for his unflinching support for the judiciary and the Bar.

    Akpata said Governor Wike’s conscientious support and defence of the judiciary is a pointer to his firm belief that institution of State should be strengthened.

    The NBA President stated that when Governor Wike leaves office, posterity will remember him as a man who fervently contributed his quota to nation building.

    Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Rivers State and former NBA President, Onueze C.J Okocha lauded Governor Wike for his numerous landmark achievements in office.

  • Governors bow to pressure, approve uniform template for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature, judiciary

    Governors bow to pressure, approve uniform template for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature, judiciary

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has approved a uniform template for the implementation of the Memorandum of Action on financial autonomy for State legislatures and judiciary.

    The forum disclosed this in a communiqué signed by its Chairman and Ekiti State Gov. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday night, in Abuja, after its 32nd teleconference meeting.

    It noted that the template was signed with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASUN) to facilitate the implementation of financial autonomy for the State legislatures and judiciary.

    The template was developed following a joint meeting of the State Attorneys General and the Commissioners of Finance held on June 25, on the directive of the Forum.

    The forum expressed its concern over certain proposed amendments to the Principal Stamp Duties Act by the Senate.

    It noted that the amendment sought to remove the powers to administer and collect stamp duties from the Federal Inland Revenue Service or their State counterparts, depending on the nature of the transaction, to the Nigeria Postal Service.

    “The provisions of Section 163 of the 1999 Constitution requires that Stamp Duties on transactions between a company and an individual should be paid to the FIRS and returned to the state of derivation”, the forum noted, as it resolved to engage with the National Assembly on the matter.

    On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the communique stated that the governors were in full support of the unbundling and commercialization of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), but were, however, concerned with the proposed ownership structure of the NNPC, which was handed to the Federal Government.

    “The NGF recommends that given that the corporation is owned by the three tiers of government, NNPC Limited, the new incorporated entity, should be owned by a vehicle that holds the interest of the three tiers of government.

    “For now, the institution that is positioned to carry out this mandate is the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    “This amendment, as well as the proposed 3 per cent share of oil revenue to host communities and 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins, will be responded to at relevant channels, including the National Assembly and the National Economic Council (NEC)”, the forum said.

    The forum also stated that it would take a position on the planned privatization of assets of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) as listed by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), because it was done without due consultation with state governments, who are also shareholders of the company.

    “ NDPHC is incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act as a private limited liability company with shareholding fully subscribed to by the federal, state and local governments with a mandate to manage National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) in the country”, the forum noted.

    The Forum threw its weight behind the launch of the NGF Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative (PISI) developed to tackle insecurity, conflicts and violence in the country.

    It stated that the launch of PISI on July 8 heralded an important milestone for the NGF as it sought to build a more inclusive and collaborative platform to drive an urgent country-wide response to security challenges in the country.

    The communique noted that Fayemi had briefed the governors on the inauguration of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with a mandate to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

    It added that state governors were enjoined to nominate focal persons, who would consolidate policy strategies put in place by State governments to end poverty in the country.

    The focal persons would be inducted into a Technical Working Group, chaired by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, and co-chaired by the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, the communique said.

    The forum also acknowledged receiving an update from the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the recent rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases and called for consensual action to prevent a third wave in the country.

    “Following the update, the Forum called on all state governors to revive their COVID-19 protocols and collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take appropriate and immediate actions to flatten the transmission curve.

    “The forum will interface with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 to accelerate processes required to fast track the delivery of additional vaccines for the country.”

    It stated that an update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability – Program-for-Results (PforR) was also presented at the meeting, in addition to another update on the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus – Programme for Results (Nigeria CARES), from Mrs. Firo Elhassan, NGF’s Programme Manager.

    Following the update, the forum resolved to interface with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMBNP) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to ensure speedy approval and commencement of the programme, in line with the 2021 budgets of States.

    Another presentation by Princess Miriam Onuoha, Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Disabilities on the adoption of the Discrimination against Person with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018) was also received.

    Thereafter, the forum expressed its commitment to actively support, through the NGF Secretariat, the domestication of the disability law in states where it had not been passed.

    Since 2018, at least 12 States had passed disability laws, including Ekiti, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Jigawa, Ondo, Bauchi, Anambra, Niger and River State.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Suburban Fiber Company, Mr Bruce Ayonote, also made a presentation to the forum on the Roadmap for Successful Digital Transformation Execution in States, according to the communique.

    “The proposal, which sought to build both hard and soft digital infrastructure for State governments, was welcomed by the governors, who mandated the NGF Secretariat to facilitate the planning and partnership process with interested state governments.

    “Lastly, the Forum also received a report on the diversification and non-oil export opportunities for states post-COVID-19 from the Policy Development Facility (PDF) Bridge Programme.

    While welcoming the study, the forum noted that the findings of the report would help strengthen the diversification agenda of states.

  • Governors fault Buhari’s Executive order 10 granting financial autonomy to state legislature, judiciary

    Governors fault Buhari’s Executive order 10 granting financial autonomy to state legislature, judiciary

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has faulted the Executive Order 10 issued in 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari that guaranteed the financial autonomy of state legislature and judiciary.

    The Forum said that the Executive Order 10 was needless to ostensibly support implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature, saying President Buhari was ill-advised on the issue.

    The NGF Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto, Dr. Aminu Tambuwal made this known in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday during a Colloquium organised by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice Academy, in honour of the retiring Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

    Speaking on the theme entitled: “The Judicial Autonomy: Perspective of the Nigerian Governor Forum”, Tambuwal said that the Forum expected President Buhari to have consulted widely before issuing the order, saying exercising such powers unilaterally was ‘sheer illegality’.

    The governor clarified that the states’ governors were not opposed to financial autonomy for these arms of government, saying the delay in implementation was as a result of process, structure and quest for legal clarity.

    He said: “Nigeria in Section 121(3) provides that: “Any amount standing to the credit of the – (a)House of Assembly of the State; and (b) Judiciary In the Consolidated revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively; in the case of the judiciary, such amount shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.”

    “As Governors of the 36 States under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), let me state very clearly that we are unequivocally committed to the autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature.

    “The recent misunderstanding on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary is predicated on the need to establish an implementation framework to the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 121(3). What we have questioned, and we have made this known at every opportunity, is the process of implementing this provision of the Constitution.

    “As Governors, we will be failing in our responsibility if we refuse to draw the attention of the President, stakeholders and the country to grave concerns about the constitutionality of Executive Order 10 of 2020. That was the basis of the position that we took on the Executive Order 10.

    “The Executive Order 10 ostensibly intended to support the implementation of judicial financial autonomy, was completely unnecessary and ill advised. Let me at this juncture state clearly that we never questioned the right of Mr. President to issue Executive Orders. We only stated that Section 121(3) did not require Presidential Executive Fiat to become implementable.

    Tambuwal expressed delight that consensus has finally been reached on the autonomy conundrum and opined that the strike is expected to be suspended anytime soon.

    “The agreement allows a period of 45 days for implementation structures to be put in place across States including the enactment of a Fund Management Law which will grant the Judiciary the power to manage its capital and recurrent expenditures in accordance with the provisions of constitution.

    “Budgetary releases to the judiciary will be pro-rated based on the actual revenues recorded each month by the State government. Monthly revenue reconciliation and allocation will be presided over by a State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC) to be set up under the Fund Management Law – a similar practice to what we have at the federal level.

    “We hope that this will put an end to the long weeks of strike action that have seen our judicial and criminal justice system grounded to a halt. We have lost so much in the past weeks. The big takeaway is the centrality of communication, sincerity, trust and dialogue.

    “We have requested that the President disbands the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, to avert future rancor between the various arms of government, arising from misconceived guidance from a committee lacking the requisite understanding of constitutional matters.”

    Corroborating Tambuwal’s position, the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said that the Presidential directive was unconstitutional illegal as it undermined the executive power of the governors stipulated in the 1999 constitution.

    Fayemi said that the states’ governors are committed to financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary, saying that ‘democracy can’t endure if we subject the independence of these two arms to the jackboots of the governors’.

    “Who is to take capital spending for the judiciary and legislature has always been the controversy. The governors will continue to hold our judiciary with reverence, because In know that this democracy will not endure, if we subject our judiciary to the jackboots of the executive.

    “There is no questioning the fact that we can do a lot more for our judiciary to make it truly independent,” he added.

    In his submission, the CJ of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, said judicial autonomy was essential ingredients for democratic consolidation.

    He added further that judicial autonomy was adequately guaranteed in the 1999 constitution, saying section 121 (3) was simple and should be respected by state governors.

  • Financial autonomy: Why I can’t fault your action, CJN backs striking judicial workers

    Financial autonomy: Why I can’t fault your action, CJN backs striking judicial workers

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad has noted the decision by court workers nationwide embark on strike to press for financial autonomy for the Judiciary was justified.

    “I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

    “I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,’’ the CJN was quoted as saying after a meeting on Wednesday with leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in his office in Abuja.

    The Media Aide to the CJN, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, said in a statement on Thursday, that Justice Muhammad spoke after hearing from some leaders of JUSUN who explained why they would sustain the strike until state governments take concrete steps on the issue.

    Part of the statement reads: “The national officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) met with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Wednesday ostensibly to give him a feedback on his recent demand on the union to call-off the ongoing strike.

    “The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hadjia Hadiza Uwani Mustapha also attended the meeting held in the CJN chambers at the Supreme Court.

    “The CJN had, at an earlier meeting with JUSUN leaders on April 6, asked the union to call-off the strike in view of its adverse effect on the justice system in the country.

    “But at the meeting of Wednesday, the JUSUN officials, led by its Deputy National President, Emmanuel Abioye and Jimoh Musa Alonge (Treasurer) explained why the union found it difficult to heed the CJN’s demand to call off the strike.

    “Abiyoye told the CJN that the state governors must begin to demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place some measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for judiciary in their respective states.

    “Abioye said: ‘Though there’s financial autonomy for the judiciary already in some states while some are assuring that they would comply, but others have to take steps in readiness for compliance.’

    “According to Abioye, the union expects each state to start implementing its self-accounting law to deal with the Internally Generated Revenue in line with Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and that states without such law should put it in place.

    “Abioye said it is his union’s position that there must be some level of seriousness from all quarters and as such, the amount standing to the credit of the judiciary from the monthly federal allocation should be deducted directly from the source by the Accountant General of the Federation and remit same to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for onward transmission to heads of courts.

    “However, the CJN said it has become difficult to fault the idea of the strike since the rights of the union and its members which are clearly defined in the Constitution are being denied especially at state level.

    ‘I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the Constitution. I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,’ the CJN said.”

  • JUST IN: Governors bow to pressure, announce date to implement financial autonomy for Judiciary

    JUST IN: Governors bow to pressure, announce date to implement financial autonomy for Judiciary

    The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it will ensure the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and judiciary institutions by May 2021.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the assurance after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the Statehouse.

    He maintained that the Governors forum has never been opposed to the issue of financial autonomy and that the governors, the speakers, and judges are on the same page.

    He further disclosed that upon emerging from a meeting with the Solicitor-General of the Federation, the representatives of the judiciary, the representatives of the Conference of Speakers, and House of Representatives today, an agreement has been reached, thus reiterating that Nigerians can expect implementation of the agreement no later than May.

    The NGF’s comments regarding the matter come few hours after members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a peaceful march at the National Assembly in solidarity with judiciary workers who are protesting in favour of financial autonomy in the country.

    The lawyers who had earlier converged at the Court of Appeal gate before proceeding to the Parliament’s complex in their numbers were stopped from entering the Assembly by security operatives.

    Leadership of the NBA had earlier on Friday directed its branch chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement judiciary’s financial autonomy.

    A statement by the president of the association, Olumide Akpata, directed the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more like peaceful protests, on Monday, and on all other subsequent Mondays until the demand for the judiciary’s financial autonomy is met.

    It urged the branch leaders “to effectively mobilise their members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government houses” to press home the demand.

    TNG reports that JUSUN since April 6, 2021, left the courts in Nigeria under lock and key because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary as the third arm of government. They commenced a nationwide strike today, April 19, 2021.

  • Financial autonomy: Workers ground Ogun State House of Assembly

    Financial autonomy: Workers ground Ogun State House of Assembly

    Legislative activities were grounded at the Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday as the st6ate chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) joined their counterparts nationwide on an indefinite strike.

    The indefinite strike was due to failure of the government to implement financial autonomy for the legislature as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

    Addressing newsmen at the assembly complex, Mr James Obanla, the State Chairman of PASAN, said that the assembly staff had joined the strike as directed by the national body.

    Obanla said that all activities at the assembly complex would be grounded indefinitely.

    He explained that several notices had been issued to the government on the need to implement the financial autonomy signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, but without any action.

    The PASAN chairman, who noted that the strike would affect correspondences from the executive arm of government, however, expressed confidence in the quick resolution of the issue.

    Speaking on the benefits of the financial autonomy when fully implemented, Obanla said that the autonomy would enhance the business of government and also provide room for separation of power.

    “The strike is indefinite, businesses among the three arms of government will be affected.

    “Today’s plenary is already affected and the stakeholders’ forum scheduled for tomorrow will likely be affected too,” he said.

  • Nasarawa Governor grants full financial autonomy to 13 LGAs

    Nasarawa Governor grants full financial autonomy to 13 LGAs

    Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe says, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule has granted full financial autonomy to the 13 LGAs of the State.

    He stated this yesterday while declaring open a two day training workshop, organized for members and staff of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission.

    The deputy governor who represented the governor at the event assured that the state government will not interfere in the conduct of council elections, but will support the full independence of the commission and other assistance to conduct free, fair and credible council elections.

    “In a society like ours, free, fair and credible election constitutes the basic principle of democracy. In this regards, electoral administrators are the drivers who ensure that the tenets of democracy are greatly enhanced through election” he said

    Speaking earlier, chairman, Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), Ayuba Wandai Usman, said the objective of the training was to boost the morale of staff of the commission

    “The objective of the training is to boost the morale of our staff, bring them in tune with recent developments in election management techniques and to introduce electoral best practices in the commission in line with the policy thrust of the Engr Abdullahi Sule administration.”

    According to him, the theme of the training workshop ‘conduct of credible election into local government councils,’ was carefully chosen because “it holistically covers our intention to put in place a modern day election management body.”

  • Financial Autonomy: Presidential committee tasks governors on strict compliance

    Financial Autonomy: Presidential committee tasks governors on strict compliance

    The Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy for Judiciary and Legislature, has urged governors to comply with the Executive Order 10.

    This it said would enable effective implementation of the financial autonomy of states’ Legislature and Judiciary guaranteed by the Executive Order 10.

    The Committee’s Secretary, Sen. Ita Enang stated this whiel speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

    Recall that the Executive Order 10, was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari for the implementation of autonomy of the two arms of government; the state legislature and the judiciary.

    The Executive Order 10, granted financial autonomy to the 36 state Houses of Assembly and its Judiciary.

    The executive order No. 10 of 2020, made it mandatory that all states of the federation should include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

    Enang said that the financial autonomy would facilitate development and promote financial accountability at states level.

    Enang, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, said that the greatest challenge in Nigeria’s democracy today was wastage at the state level, hence the need to address it.

    He said that the Executive Order no 10 would guarantee financial transparency in states.

    According to Enang, one important feature of the financial autonomy is that all the three arms of government will prepare their budget together; they will know what the state government has and what it do not have.

    “In the budgeting process, they will know how much each of the arms of government will use in settling salaries and allowances of the legislators, paying their aids, legislative staff and office maintenance, among others.

    “The governors will no longer be responsible for their expenses, it will also make the house of assembly responsive.

    “So; what the president is doing is to ensure that each state house of assembly is independent not for the purpose of attacking the governors but for the purpose of checking the executive and making government more responsible and responsive to the yearnings of the people, and development will be faster.

    “The governors will know that the judiciary is independent and same with the legislature, these arms of the government need not to get approval from the governors in order to execute their respective duties,” he added.

    The secretary also said that the provision stipulated that the governors upon receipt of money due to any arm of government in the consolidated revenue fund of the state from the federation account and internally generated revenue, should remit same to the respective arms.

    “But where any governor fails to remit the money due to the arms, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) will deduct that amount standing to the credit of that state in the federation account and remit directly to arms concerned.

    “It is important to emphasise that this deduction is not the first line action, but it is only applicable when one arm of the government is oppressed.

    “We are confident that none of the 36 states will in any manner deprive their state legislature or judiciary of the fund that is due to them.

    “The implementation committee will be very conciliatory and respectful of the powers of each arm of government at the states level and the powers and privileges of the governors,” Enang said.

    He, therefore, advised that all the arms of government at state levels should ensure they followed the practice that had been at the federal level for proper accountability.

    “The state Houses of Assembly should follow the process that goes on in the National Assembly, be as independent, inter dependent and consultative as the national assembly is with the executive, then we will have the best democracy.”

    The Presidential Implementation Committee was constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution states: “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.”