Governors of the states of the federation have promised to commence the implementation of the financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary from May, 2021.
The chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, made this known on Monday.
He spoke with State House correspondent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with some stakeholders where he said the modalities for the implementation of the financial autonomy had been worked out.
Fayemi was at the meeting with governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Representatives of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Conference of State Assembly Speakers were also present at the meeting.
His words: “For us, we’re here for legislative and judicial autonomy and the governors, the speakers and the judges are on the same page as far as this issue is concerned.
“We just emerged from a meeting with the Solicitor-General of the Federation, representatives of the judiciary, representatives of the Conference of Speakers and House of Representatives and we are on all fours.
“An agreement has been reached.
“First, the issue is about implementation.
“There has been no objection from governors on judicial and legislative autonomies.
“As a matter of fact, it would not have passed if governors were not in support in the first instance, in the state assemblies.
“So, that issue has been fully and holistically addressed, but we don’t just want to agree to something on paper without working out the modalities for implementation.
“Thankfully, the meeting we have just emerged from, with the Chief of Staff to the President, has worked out the modalities to the satisfaction of all parties.”
JUSUN embarked on a nationwide protest on Monday to continue its demand for judiciary’s financial autonomy.
