Buhari to issue executive order on State legislature, judiciary autonomy

*Buhari receives report

The Presidential Committee on the Implementation of autonomy of
State legislature and State judiciary on Tuesday submitted its
report to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

The Committee which was chaired by the former Attorney General
of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami
recommended the signing of Executive Order by the President for the
immediate take-off of the implementation of the autonomy for states
legislature and the judiciary.

Speaking with State House correspondents after submission of the
report, Malami said, “Well, substantially, arising from the
position of the President relating to the deepening of democracy
relating to upholding the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, within the context of
governance, Mr. President had sometimes back in March, 2019,
precisely, put in place a committee.

“That committee was mandated to package and make recommendations
as it relates to the application, operations and observance of
section 121 of the Constitution which establishes the autonomy of
the States Legislature and Judiciary.

“So, the intention of the committee is to see what can be done
with effect to the Constitutional order with respect to the
autonomy of the states Legislature and Judiciary in the context of
the provisions of the Constitution.

“So, today the committee has concluded its assignment
substantially by way of making available to the President, an
interim report indicating the modalities this should follow with
due observance of the provisions of the section 121 and due
observance of the sustenance of the independence of the States
Legislature and Judiciary.

“So, it is about the Constitutional order, it is about the
sustenance of the requirements of the Constitution as it relates to
the independence of the Legislature and the Judiciary and the
committee has presented its report to Mr. President.” he added

On how soon the implementation will commence, he said, “Well,
the independence has already been established by the Constitution
so, it is now about the implementation of the modalities and
amongst the recommendations made to Mr. President is an Executive
Order by the President designed to give effect to the
implementation of section 121 which Constitutionally establishes
the independence of the two arms of government.

“So, it is about the application, Operation and enforcement of
the provisions of the Constitution and with the signing of the
Executive Order, l believe the necessary formalities of the
wholehearted implementation of this provisions will come into
effect.”

On his continued membership of the committee despite Cabinet
dissolution, Malami said, “I am here based on the powers of Mr.
President who exercises the powers of his prerogatives to appoint
anyone, and as a Nigerian for that matter. This remains a
prerogative of Mr. President.”

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