Benue govt grants financial autonomy to legislature, judiciary

Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, on Thursday, disclosed that the state government is in final process of granting financial autonomy to the legislature and judiciary.

Gusa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, said that the step was in fulfilment of the provision of constitution as amended.

He added that the two laws had already been assented to by Governor Samuel Ortom.

While stating that the first was the law to provide for the management of funds accruing to the state judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the state, Gusa noted that the second was the law to provide for the management of funds accruing to the Benue State House of Assembly.

In order to have proper implementation of the laws, the Attorney General said that the state had created the State Accounts Allocation Committee saddled with the responsibility of sharing funds that are accruing to the state on monthly basis in a manner that is agreeable by the three arms of government.

Gusa noted that the aim was to strengthen democracy and the separation of power that are already in practice.

“It is also to strengthen the smooth relationship between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary and to keep to the tenets and desire of Governor Ortom on non interference with the workings and operations of the other arms of government.

“This law was assented to by the governor and we are in the process of gazetting same so that it will be made available to the public,” the Attorney General said.