Parliamentary staff shut Oyo Assembly entrance over financial autonomy
…You are fighting a good course, Oyo Speaker says
Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) Oyo State chapter has paralysed legislative activities in the state’s House of Assembly over delayed in the implementation of the legislative financial autonomy.
The protest, which led to the blockage of all entrances leading to the House of Assembly complex, held early hours of Tuesday.
The protest was against continued denial of financial autonomy to legislative arm of the government.
The Chairman of PASAN, Mr. Yemi Alade, who spoke during the protest, said the Union embarked on indefinite strike to pursue the implementation of Executive order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari last year.
He added that for Nigeria to witness true democracy, there must be financial autonomy for all arms of government, hunting that the strike would continue till their demands were met.
” Our appeal is to all the Governors to commence the implementation of the financial autonomy. It is surprising that they are not following the Presidential Order. We will not return to work until our demands are met. ” Oyo Assembly PASAN Chairman insists.
Reacting, the Speaker, Oyo. State House of Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, who threw weight behind the demands of PASAN, commended and supported the workers in their endeavour to demand their rights in a peaceful way.
He slated that the State House of Assembly and Conference of Speakers would interface with the Governor’s Forum for implementation.
Hon Ogundoyin said the strike will no doubt paralyse the activities of the Oyo State House of Assembly, adding that it was however in the interest of democracy and the independence of the Legislative arms of Government.
He assured them that the Governors Forum will soon come up with a uniform way or modality of implementing the financial autonomy.
” No state will go about it in different way. Everything will done in a uniform manner. Let me also say that, the Speakers’ Forum too will not relent until the financial autonomy is achieved. ” The Speaker said
