We’ll Shut Down National, State Assemblies On Wednesday – PASAN Vows
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Staff of the National Assembly (NASS) and the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly, under the umbrella of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), have vowed to embark on a nationwide strike on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, to press home their demands for the legislative arm of the government to enjoy financial autonomy as envisaged by the 1999 constitution as amended.
Threatening to shut down and lock up their respective offices pending when their demands are met, PASAN said State Governors must show good faith by immediately commencing the implementation of financial autonomy for State assemblies in line with Executive Order No.10 of 2020 signed into law by immediate past President Mohammadu Buhari.
Based on Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended), the implementation of the Financial Autonomy for both the State Legislature and Judiciary Order of 2020 was meant to ensure the two arms of government in the 36 states receive their funding as a First Line Charge rather than depending on the governors for funds.
PASAN, in separate letters addressed to the Chairmen of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF); and the Forum of Speakers, as well as the Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), explained that its decision to shut down legislative arms of government was due to the Governors continuous refusal to implement the financial autonomy as provided in the constitution as amended.
Further stating that the current move is against the backdrop of an earlier 21-day strike notice, the Association said that regrettably since September 18, 2023, when the ultimatum was initially issued until its expiration, the governors have displayed an obvious lack of interest in doing the needful and remedying the situation.
Signed by its acting Secretary General, Agugbue Ugochi Happiness, the PASAN’s letters, copies cited by the media, stated thus; “We refer to our letters dated 18th September 2023 and 7th of October, 2023 on 21 days ultimatum to embark on industrial action if financial autonomy is not implemented in the State Houses of Assembly nationwide by Wednesday, 18th October 2023 and hereby inform you that the leadership of our great union has further extended the ultimatum by one week.
“We, therefore, hope that the extension would further avail ample opportunity to meet the demands of the union and avert the available industrial action.”
Consequently, the letter threatened thus; “We hereby reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct the members to embark on the proposed strike action if its demands are not yielded to”.
It is on record that PASAN had on several occasions embarked on protests to press home their demands without achieving much success except for repeated but failed promises by the 36 State governors.
