Financial Autonomy: Obedience To Constitution Non-Negotiable, Judicial, Legislative Workers Tell FG

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*Insist On Implementation Of Full Financial Autonomy For
Judiciary, Legislature

There seems to be no end in sight for the industrial action by
the judiciary and legislative workers pressing for the full
implementation of financial autonomy for the two arms of government
in states as they have vowed not to compromise on their demands for
the implementation of the 1999 Constitution as altered.

The workers, who have been on strike for about one month, said
yesterday at a meeting with a federal government team, led by
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, that the issue
of financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciaries was
the constitutional provision that did not warrant any negotiation
with governors.

The national leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria
(JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) also
insisted that the governors must fully implement financial autonomy
for the two arms of government in the 36 states of the federation
as guaranteed by the constitution before the current strike will be
called off.

But the federal government pleaded with the unions to consider
the efforts being made to resolve the dispute and suspend their
strike to enable courts and legislative houses to reopen.

Ngige said yesterday in Abuja that progress had been made on
about 90 per cent of the issues in dispute.

However, the meeting between the federal government team and the
leadership of the unions ended last night with an agreement that
the unions should go and study the government’s proposal, while the
meeting reconvenes next week.
But earlier, during the opening of talks with the federal
government team and representatives of the governors, the Deputy
Chairman of JUSUN, Mr. Emmanuel Abioye, said the unions still
maintained their stance on the full implementation of financial
autonomy for the judiciary and legislative arms of government in
the states.

Abioye, while responding to the minister’s address, said: “I am
happy that when you were talking, you said it is a constitutional
issue and so since it is a constitutional issue, I don’t think we
should negotiate on it. We are trying to avoid someone somewhere
coming to challenge the constitution one day. So, anything short of
this is not why we are here.”

Also, President of PASAN, Mr. Mohammed Usman, said the meeting
availed them the opportunity to receive the fresh proposals by the
governors, adding that the unions resolved to present the proposals
to their national executive committees.

He stated that the unions would be reporting their decisions to
the government at another meeting next Tuesday, adding that the
strike will continue.
According to him, the governors only agreed to shift ground on the
issue of ceding money for capital projects to the two arms of
government.

“Aside from the ceding of capital projects, there is nothing new
in the governors’ position. However, we are happy that the federal
government has opened negotiations on the matter but we will not
suspend the strike until there is agreement on the implementation
of full autonomy,” he added.

Ngige, however, asked the workers to suspend the strike.

While welcoming the parties to the resumed negotiations, the
minister said about 90 per cent progress had been achieved in
harmonising issues with the governors.

Ngige expressed optimism that the strike would soon end.

He said the government side had made offers to the two unions
for them to consult with their various National Executive
Committees and revert back.

According to him, a lot of work went into the proposal given by
the government side to the two unions, which substantially
addressed their demands for judicial and legislative autonomy in
the 36 states of the country.

The minister stated that the proposal was produced by the
committee of the government side, comprising the Solicitor-General
of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN); the Secretary of the Presidential
Committee for the Implementation of Judicial and Legislative
Autonomy, Senator Ita Enang; representative of the National
Judicial Council (NJC) and the Director-General of the Nigerian
Governors Forum (NGF).

Ngige said: “A lot of work went in. We have exchanged briefs
with the JUSUN and PASAN. They have their demands, which they had
earlier submitted. The government side has given counter offers and
properly addressed the burning issue of financial autonomy for
state legislatures and judiciary.”

He stated that questions were asked and answered, while
observations were made and explained, working on the proposal given
by the government side.

Ngige said the meeting had been adjourned with a view to enable
JUSUN and PASAN to take back the government proposal to their
members for consideration.

“We expect them to work on the documents from tomorrow and if
they are satisfied, they should inform us. And you know that when
they are satisfied, the logical thing is to call off the industrial
dispute. So, we are to receive their views on the government offer
by Tuesday morning,” he added.

Ngige said the discussions were fruitful, adding that they have
moved from the initial position of ground zero, to ground 85.

He, however, appealed to the striking workers to return to work
to enable the government to meet the remaining part of their
demands.

“We cannot do this when the legislatures are closed in various
states. We cannot also operationalise them when the courts are
closed and heads of courts are not allowed into the courts or their
offices.

“We have made documentation and statistics for the state Houses
of Assembly to make appropriate laws. So, we plead that you open
the courts and state Houses of Assembly.

“Besides, we are menaced by bandits, terrorists and arsonists.
With the courts closed, the police cannot tackle insecurity,” Ngige
said.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta
Affairs, Senator Eta Enang, who also spoke at the opening talks
with representatives of JUSUN and PASAN, said the suspension of the
strike had become necessary to enable the legislatures to pass
legislation needed to ensure the smooth implementation of the
financial autonomy.

“I just want to appeal to JUSUN and PASAN that we did not
undertake all these efforts in vain and that when we arrive at a
certain decision at the end of the technical session, you will be
able to hit the ground running. We plead that you call off the
strike because we will not be able to pass the necessary laws if
the legislative houses remain closed,” he said.

According to him, from the engagement so far with the governors,
he believed that the gap was being closed.

Enang stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had told the
governors to do what was right to the judiciaries and legislatures
in their states just as was being done at the federal level.

“The president is saying to the governors, go and treat the
state legislature and judiciary arms the same way we treat the
National Assembly and the judiciary at the federal level,” he
added.

When asked to comment on the outcome of the meeting, Abioye said
they were going back to meet with their National Executive
Committees to study the situation and consider the offers made
before reverting back to Ngige.