Sophia Michaels
The gates to the Edo State House of Assembly have been shut by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that the action was in response to the ultimatum for the implementation of financial autonomy in legislative houses across the country.
As a result, the lawmakers were unable to access the chamber, leading to a protest in front of the Assembly.
The Chairman of PASAN Edo state Chapter, Umaru Farouk Haruna, stated that the national president of PASAN, Comrade Mohammed Usman, had instructed all chairmen and secretaries to mobilize members for full compliance with the nationwide peaceful protest.
The protest was initiated after the government and governors of the 36 states failed to meet the two-day ultimatum for autonomy implementation, which was later extended by one week and concluded on October 27, 2023.
“The issue of autonomy is a constitutional matter. You know it has been passed by the National Assembly and was assented to by the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari.
“All we need is for the government to start implementation. But as we speak today, nothing has been done. The 36 states of Houses of Assembly, you can call them rubber stamps. They can’t stand on their feet simply because they are not autonomous. We are not just fighting for the staff, we are fighting to deepen the dividends of democracy for Nigerians.
“The essence of separation of power is when autonomy is in operation, but as we speak today, the governors are doing whatever they like, and nobody is asking them questions. The Houses of Assembly dare not speak because they are not autonomous bodies. This is the struggle we are in,” Haruna said.
