*Malami: No Going Back
![image](/2021/04/lawp2.jpg")
Governors are prepared to back autonomy for the Legislature,
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said on Monday.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
Also on Monday, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami, said there is no going back on the plan to free
lawmakers and the judiciary in states from the stronghold of the
Executive.
Lalong, who is the Chair of Northern Governors’ Forum, spoke in
Jos, the Plateau State capital when he received a delegation of the
Conference of Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abubakar
Suleiman.
He told the team that the issue of autonomy for the legislature
would be put to rest with the final engagements among all
stakeholders.
Lalong, according to a statement, pointed out in a statement by
his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham,
said autonomy was not just for financial independence, but also for
strengthening the legislature and enhancing democratic values.
According to him, the implementation of autonomy will require
each state to establish a House of Assembly Service Commission to
handle all administrative functions of the legislature and provide
proper accountability.
The statement said: ’’Governor Lalong has assured the leadership
of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly of the
commitment of all governors towards achieving autonomy for the
legislative and judicial arms of government.
“He advised the speakers to engage other parties as well as
educate the public on what autonomy is all about because a lot of
misconception is creating an impression that members of the
legislature stand to gain financially rather than be better
supported to serve the people.”
On insecurity, Lalong said “the implementation of community
policing was the way to go which will gradually lead to state
police when fully implemented.”
Suleiman told the governor that the team was on an advocacy
visit to discuss the issue of autonomy and other national matters
such as insecurity.
He said that “the conference recognises the strategic position
of Governor Lalong as a former speaker and chairman of the body,
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, and a strong member of
the Nigerian Governors Forum who has been at the centre of
discussions towards autonomy.”
Justice Minister Malami at the inauguration of the remodeled
Sokoto State High Court Complex in Sokoto, described autonomy for
the Judiciary and the Legislature as a catalyst for the protection
and promotion of democracy.
Malami also said the government would soon unveil an enhanced
salary package and conditions of service for judges as part of
measures to make them deliver justice without fear or favour.
He noted that with the last amendment to the Constitution and
the Executive Order 10, the issue of financial autonomy for state
Judiciary and Legislature ought not to be negotiable.
He highlighted other efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration to grant financial autonomy to the Judiciary and
Legislature, saying they are meant “to guard against the manifest
violation of our constitutional sacred provisions that guaranty
independence of the Judiciary and financial autonomy of the
legislature and the Judiciary in all forms of Nigerian
government.”
He said: “It is pertinent to note that the National Assembly,
through the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, granted
financial autonomy, through Section 121(3) of the Constitution to
the Judiciary and Legislature at the state level, in order to
strengthen these critical arms of the Nigerian Government at the
state level, in view of the obvious challenges confronting
them.
“In furtherance of the alteration, His Excellency, President
Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2019 inaugurated the Presidential
Implementation Committee on Autonomy of the state legislature and
state judiciary.
“It is gladdening to note that the outcome of that committee’s
work has gained for the country the execution and emergence
Executive Order 10, for the implementation of the financial
autonomy of the state-level legislature and judiciary arms of the
government.”
He also explained that the new packages for judges were apart of
government’s efforts to support the Judiciary to enable it
effectively discharge its constitutional duties and sustain the
nation’s democracy.
Malami added: “As you all know, for there to be sustenance of
democracy through effective administration of justice, judges as
the defenders of social justice and lords of our judicial realm, as
well as other judicial staff must be adequately taken care of by
way of enhanced emolument and welfare packages, to enable them to
dispense justice at all times, without fear or favour, in an
independent manner.”
The minister noted that the judiciary remains a strong catalyst
for sustaining democracy, through its “protection of our democratic
principles, such as the enforcement of rules of law, promotion of
checks-and-balances, preservation of the principles of separation
of powers, and proactive judicial activisms become the bedrocks for
sustainable democracy.”
He said that the decision by Sokoto State Government to remodel
the high court complex was an indication of Governor Aminu
Tambuwal’s support for Federal Government’s efforts to ensure
financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature at the state
level.
Earlier, Justice Amina Augie who represented the Chief Justice
of the Federation, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, had said justice
remains cardinal in transformation processes.
Also on Monday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, said the National Assembly cannot salvage the local
government system unless Nigerians make a conscious decision for
autonomy to be granted that tier of government.
He spoke at a leadership training for local government chairmen
and councilors from Delta state-sponsored by House Minority Leader,
Ndudi Elumelu.
The speaker said “It’s not for us as legislators to do that. I’m
sure you’re surprised. But it’s actually for the people to address.
We have a constitutional amendment, we will throw it to the people
and they will make their decision.
“We did it the last time and went back to the states as required
by the constitution. But we couldn’t get the 2/3rd. There is a
process and we followed due process. We amended it last time but
2/3rd of the states did not agree with us.
“So it’s the people that will decide whether they want autonomy
or not. We will do what we need to do as the constitution
provides.”.
*Malami: No Going Back
Governors are prepared to back autonomy for the Legislature,
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said on Monday.
Also on Monday, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami, said there is no going back on the plan to free
lawmakers and the judiciary in states from the stronghold of the
Executive.
Lalong, who is the Chair of Northern Governors’ Forum, spoke in
Jos, the Plateau State capital when he received a delegation of the
Conference of Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abubakar
Suleiman.
He told the team that the issue of autonomy for the legislature
would be put to rest with the final engagements among all
stakeholders.
Lalong, according to a statement, pointed out in a statement by
his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham,
said autonomy was not just for financial independence, but also for
strengthening the legislature and enhancing democratic values.
According to him, the implementation of autonomy will require
each state to establish a House of Assembly Service Commission to
handle all administrative functions of the legislature and provide
proper accountability.
The statement said: ’’Governor Lalong has assured the leadership
of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly of the
commitment of all governors towards achieving autonomy for the
legislative and judicial arms of government.
“He advised the speakers to engage other parties as well as
educate the public on what autonomy is all about because a lot of
misconception is creating an impression that members of the
legislature stand to gain financially rather than be better
supported to serve the people.”
On insecurity, Lalong said “the implementation of community
policing was the way to go which will gradually lead to state
police when fully implemented.”
Suleiman told the governor that the team was on an advocacy
visit to discuss the issue of autonomy and other national matters
such as insecurity.
He said that “the conference recognises the strategic position
of Governor Lalong as a former speaker and chairman of the body,
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, and a strong member of
the Nigerian Governors Forum who has been at the centre of
discussions towards autonomy.”
Justice Minister Malami at the inauguration of the remodeled
Sokoto State High Court Complex in Sokoto, described autonomy for
the Judiciary and the Legislature as a catalyst for the protection
and promotion of democracy.
Malami also said the government would soon unveil an enhanced
salary package and conditions of service for judges as part of
measures to make them deliver justice without fear or favour.
He noted that with the last amendment to the Constitution and
the Executive Order 10, the issue of financial autonomy for state
Judiciary and Legislature ought not to be negotiable.
He highlighted other efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration to grant financial autonomy to the Judiciary and
Legislature, saying they are meant “to guard against the manifest
violation of our constitutional sacred provisions that guaranty
independence of the Judiciary and financial autonomy of the
legislature and the Judiciary in all forms of Nigerian
government.”
He said: “It is pertinent to note that the National Assembly,
through the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, granted
financial autonomy, through Section 121(3) of the Constitution to
the Judiciary and Legislature at the state level, in order to
strengthen these critical arms of the Nigerian Government at the
state level, in view of the obvious challenges confronting
them.
“In furtherance of the alteration, His Excellency, President
Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2019 inaugurated the Presidential
Implementation Committee on Autonomy of the state legislature and
state judiciary.
“It is gladdening to note that the outcome of that committee’s
work has gained for the country the execution and emergence
Executive Order 10, for the implementation of the financial
autonomy of the state-level legislature and judiciary arms of the
government.”
He also explained that the new packages for judges were apart of
government’s efforts to support the Judiciary to enable it
effectively discharge its constitutional duties and sustain the
nation’s democracy.
Malami added: “As you all know, for there to be sustenance of
democracy through effective administration of justice, judges as
the defenders of social justice and lords of our judicial realm, as
well as other judicial staff must be adequately taken care of by
way of enhanced emolument and welfare packages, to enable them to
dispense justice at all times, without fear or favour, in an
independent manner.”
The minister noted that the judiciary remains a strong catalyst
for sustaining democracy, through its “protection of our democratic
principles, such as the enforcement of rules of law, promotion of
checks-and-balances, preservation of the principles of separation
of powers, and proactive judicial activisms become the bedrocks for
sustainable democracy.”
He said that the decision by Sokoto State Government to remodel
the high court complex was an indication of Governor Aminu
Tambuwal’s support for Federal Government’s efforts to ensure
financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature at the state
level.
Earlier, Justice Amina Augie who represented the Chief Justice
of the Federation, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, had said justice
remains cardinal in transformation processes.
Also on Monday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, said the National Assembly cannot salvage the local
government system unless Nigerians make a conscious decision for
autonomy to be granted that tier of government.
He spoke at a leadership training for local government chairmen
and councilors from Delta state-sponsored by House Minority Leader,
Ndudi Elumelu.
The speaker said “It’s not for us as legislators to do that. I’m
sure you’re surprised. But it’s actually for the people to address.
We have a constitutional amendment, we will throw it to the people
and they will make their decision.
“We did it the last time and went back to the states as required
by the constitution. But we couldn’t get the 2/3rd. There is a
process and we followed due process. We amended it last time but
2/3rd of the states did not agree with us.
“So it’s the people that will decide whether they want autonomy
or not. We will do what we need to do as the constitution
provides.”.