•Governors’ forum, Speakers will engage PASAN for amicable resolution – Conference of Speakers’ Chairman
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has beckoned on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on governors to guarantee full implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures to avert another industrial action.
It would be recalled that the PASAN suspended its last strike following a jointly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Chairmen of the Conference of the Speakers and Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to the effect that legislative financial autonomy for the state legislatures would take effect across the country by 28th February 2024.
Zonal Vice President, South-West, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Mr Adele Adewale stated this while addressing journalists after a meeting of the zonal executive committee of the PASAN held at the Western Hall, State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Thursday.
He said the warning became expedient following the expiration of the ultimatum given governors to implement legislative financial autonomy in their respective states.
The association described the non-compliance of the Nigeria Governors Forum with the MOU as a breach of trust and a grave violation of section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Calling for quick action by governors, he noted that the MOU had a clause that the PASAN could resume its strike at any time if the governors reneged on the agreement at the expiration of the ultimatum.
Adele noted that only Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia had started implementation of full legislative financial autonomy by his recent assent to the legislative fund management law.
While Benue had fully implemented financial autonomy, he said it was noteworthy that Lagos and Oyo States had initiated moves in that regard.
The PASAN vice president stressed that state legislatures having full autonomy will strengthen the State Houses of Assembly Service Commission, enhance the career progression of the legislative staff.
He added that such autonomy will also resolve issues like non-remittance of legislative staff monthly deductions like cooperative and pension deductions, non-payment of legislative staff wardrobe allowance, non-implementation of CONLESS as well as other germane issues bothering the welfare of the parliamentary staffers across the federation.
On the next line of action, Adele said the PASAN stalled action for at least the next two weeks within which the Speakers and the Nigeria Governors Forum are expected to deliberate on the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures.
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Adele said: “Ladies and gentlemen, the ultimatum given for the implementation of legislative financial autonomy has expired according to the signed agreement with no positive response from the State Governors except for Benue.
“Consequently, the Association considers the non-compliance of the Nigeria Governors Forum with the MOU as a breach of trust and a grave violation of section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“We are optimistic that the implementation of full legislative financial autonomy will strengthen the State Houses of Assembly Service Commission, enhance the career progression of the legislative staff and also resolve issues like non-remittance of legislative staff monthly deductions e.g cooperative and pension deductions, non-payment of legislative staff wardrobe allowance, non-implementation of Conless as well as other germane issues bothering on the welfare of the Parliamentary Staffers across the federation.
“To avert another strike which could cripple Legislative, across the nation at this critical economic period, we respectfully call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Gcfr) to prevail on the state governors to respect the position of the law on financial autonomy for State Legislatures as stipulates in the Constitution.
“While we are awaiting further directive from the national secretariat of our union on the next line of action, it is pertinent to state that members of the ZEC of PASAN SOUTH WEST will stand firm to vehemently resist any attempt to subvert the quest for the implementation of legislative financial autonomy.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin has stressed the need for continuous dialogue between the leadership of PASAN and the NGF on the implementation of financial autonomy for State legislatures.
Ogundoyin made this call when the PASAN led by its Zonal Vice President, Mr Adewale Adele paid him a courtesy visit, in his office.
Ogundoyin said the two parties must continue to meet to ensure that the issue of implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures is resolved amicably without further industrial impasse.
The Conference Chairman promised to facilitate a meeting between the NGF, Conference of State Legislatures and the leadership of PASAN where all the stakeholders will be able to discuss and highlight issues surrounding the implementation of financial autonomy for State legislatures.
Ogundoyin said: “I appreciate the leadership of PASAN in the Southwest for coming to the Oyo State House of Assembly and for paying me a visit.
“I am happy that the issue of implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures is top on the agenda of our discussion.
“I believe in continuous dialogue and I want to assure you that the leadership of the Conference will facilitate more engagements and discussions with all the stakeholders especially the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to amicable resolution of the matter.“
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