Financial Autonomy: Legislative activities crumble as aggrieved workers shut State Assemblies
By Moses Adeniyi
Legislative activities in State Houses of Assembly across the Federation further crumbled on Tuesday as aggrieved legislative workers protesting infringement on financial autonomy shut the gates of their Assemblies against legislative proceedings.
The aggrieved stakeholders are demanding implementation of financial autonomy in State Assemblies in compliance to constitutional provisions, lamenting how the existing state of affairs have limited their conditions of service.
For instance, reports revealed how legislative workers of the Zamfara State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) sealed the State House of Assembly complex in compliance with the ongoing nationwide strike over the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the legislature.
The assembly workers stormed the main entrance of the complex, denying legislators entry.
Addressing journalists in Gusau, the State Chairman of PASAN, Mr Kabiru Dauran, said the action was in compliance with the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike.
“This strike followed the expiration of the 28-day ultimatum given to the government by the association to implement financial autonomy for the legislature.
“Our autonomy is according to Section 121-(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
“We are fighting for our rights; therefore, like other States in the country, there will be no legislative activities here in Zamfara,” he was quoted.
He vowed the Assembly will remain shut until the matter is resolved or there are any further directives from the national body of the union.
In Borno, legislative workers of the Borno State House of Assembly lamenting infractions on their financial autonomy, are demanding from the State Government the payment of a sum of N317 million as accumulated allowances and salary arrears for three years.
Breakdown of the amount includes N228 million in three-year arrears of the yet-to-be-implemented Consolidated Legislative Staff Salary Structure, the immediate implementation of which the workers are demanding; N59 million in personnel costs and N30 million in three-year outstanding outfit allowances.
“These demands are only in addition to the granting of full financial autonomy to the legislature,” he said.
According to the Secretary of the Borno State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Jibrin Dahiru, aside other demands, only a full financial autonomy granted to the Legislature would settle the grievances.
The State Assembly like other States was shut against work activities.
In Gombe, the State chapter of the PASAN shut down the State House of Assembly, shutting it against any legislative activity.
Reports revealed members of the PASAN, in their hundreds, brandished placards bearing different inscriptions demanding autonomy.
Briefing journalists at the main gate of the State Assembly, the State Chairman of the PASAN, Mohammed Dukku, said, “The measure is the only option considering the fact that the Federal Government failed to obey section 121 (3a) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which pave the way for the legislative autonomy.”
According to Dukku, the Assembly would remain closed indefinitely and all staff of the Assembly would remain at home.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of PASAN, Aminu Aliyu, added that the closure of the State Assembly is in line with the directives given by the national body in response to the failure of the Federal Government to implement the financial autonomy granted to the Houses of Assembly.
“This autonomy was granted by former President Muhammadu Buhari nationwide. Despite several meetings, it has not been implemented,” he added.
Following expiration of the ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the union to implement the financial autonomy policy in State Assemblies in the Federation, PASAN staff on Monday in some States including Oyo, Edo, Kano, Ondo and Ogun, commenced an indefinite strike, consequently, leaving the Assemblies shut against legislative proceedings.
While other States joined on Tuesday, it is still unlikely a number of States would join up.
For instance, it is unlikely legislative workers in Lagos would join as checks by our correspondent revealed work is officially ongoing in the Assembly, despite directives from the national PASAN body.
