Legislative workers belonging to the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) in the Southwest region have urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene with state governors, urging them to uphold the constitutional provision for financial autonomy of state legislatures.
Their plea comes as a preventive measure to avoid a potential strike that could disrupt legislative functions, especially during this crucial economic period.
During a press conference held at the Western Hall, House of Assembly Complex, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the PASAN Southwest Zone made the appeal on Thursday after a meeting of the Zonal Executive Council (ZEC). The session was attended by notable figures such as Prince Adewale Adele (Zonal Vice President), Comrade Gbenga Oluwajuyigbe (National Treasurer), as well as Chairmen and Secretaries from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo state chapters, among other leaders.
According to The Nation, in November 2023, parliamentary workers across the country engaged in a nationwide strike demanding the immediate implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures. The three-week strike was suspended following a jointly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Chairmen of the Conference of the Speakers and Nigeria Governors Forum. The MoU stated that legislative financial autonomy for state legislatures would be implemented nationwide by February 28, 2024.
However, the Zonal Vice President expressed disappointment that despite the extended timeline provided by the MoU, the governors have yet to grant legislative financial autonomy to the state legislatures. He commended Governor Rev. Hycathin Alia of Benue State for recently assenting to the legislative fund management law, highlighting this as an example of a democratic leader who values and strengthens the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.
Prince Adele stated, “The suspension of the industrial action was based on the confidence the Association had in the negotiators and the importance of the legislative arm in the budget process as states prepare for the 2024 budget estimates. The MoU clearly states that PASAN is free to resume the strike if the governors fail to implement legislative financial autonomy after the ultimatum expires. It is disheartening to note that despite the extended timeline provided by the MoU, the governors have not granted legislative financial autonomy, except for Benue.”
He further added, “Consequently, the Association considers the non-compliance of the Nigeria Governors Forum with the MoU as a breach of trust and a serious violation of Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). We believe that the full implementation of legislative financial autonomy will strengthen the state Houses of Assembly Service Commission, enhance the career progression of legislative staff, and address issues such as non-remittance of monthly deductions, including cooperatives and pension contributions, non-payment of wardrobe allowances, non-implementation of CONLESS, and other relevant issues concerning the welfare of parliamentary staffers nationwide.”
“To prevent another strike that could disrupt legislative activities at this critical economic period, we respectfully call upon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to use his influence and urge the state governors to honor the constitutional provision for financial autonomy of state legislatures. While we await further directives from the national secretariat of our union regarding the next course of action, it is important to state that the PASAN Southwest ZEC members will staunchly resist any attempt to undermine the pursuit of legislative financial autonomy.”