Judiciary/Legislature Autonomy: Governors Meet Wednesday On Implementation

Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have scheduled a
meeting for Wednesday to among others, strategise on ways to ensure
the actual implementation of financial autonomy for state Judiciary
and Legislature.

The Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF, Abdulrazaque
Bello-Barkindo said, in a statement on Monday, that the issue would
form a major item on the agenda of virtual meeting, scheduled to
commence at 2pm.

Bello-Barkindo said the governors would also deliberate on the
Memorandum of Action (MoA) endorsed by representatives of the NGF,
the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary
Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and other stakeholders before
the over two-month old strike by judicial and parliamentary workers
was suspended.

He noted that efforts were already under way in all states to
either constitute the States Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC)
or to inaugurate them, preparatory to the granting of full autonomy
to Legislature and Judiciary at the state level.

Part of the statement reads: “The return to work by the Judicial
Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff
Association of Nigeria (PASAN) which begins Tuesday after the
democracy day holiday, will top the agenda of the 31st NGF meeting
which takes place, virtually, on Wednesday 16th June 2021.

“Efforts are already under way in all states of the federation,
to either constitute the States Accounts Allocation Committees
(SAAC) or inaugurate them, preparatory to the granting of full
autonomy to the two arms of government, namely, the legislature and
the judiciary at the sub-national level.

“JUSUN and PASAN have been on a nationwide strike for more than
two months, while governors of the 36 states worked day-and-night
to establish modalities for their autonomy in conformity with the
constitutional provisions that stipulated thus.

“The Governors’ meeting will be briefed before deliberating on
the Memorandum of Action (MoA) of this main item on the agenda.

“According to the invitation to all the 36 governors as issued
by the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr
Asishana Bayo Okauru, the governors will be updated on the
activities of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid 19, a
regular feature of the governors’ meetings, by the Governor of
Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who heads the governors’ interface
with the PTF.

“The meeting will also review the agenda of the NEC which takes
place a day after. Other items on the agenda include the regular
update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and
Sustainability for results (SFTAS) to provide states’ status on
their DLI’s and upcoming deadlines.

“The meeting will also receive two presentations: Director
General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), will make a
presentation regarding unlocking liquidity through
sale/optimization of state-owned redundant/sub-optimal assets,
while the Policy Development Facility (PDF) bridge programme will
discuss diversification and non-oil export opportunities for states
post-Covid-19.

“The meeting will commence at 2pm but governors are expected to
start logging in from 1pm.”

Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have scheduled a
meeting for Wednesday to among others, strategise on ways to ensure
the actual implementation of financial autonomy for state Judiciary
and Legislature.

The Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF, Abdulrazaque
Bello-Barkindo said, in a statement on Monday, that the issue would
form a major item on the agenda of virtual meeting, scheduled to
commence at 2pm.

Bello-Barkindo said the governors would also deliberate on the
Memorandum of Action (MoA) endorsed by representatives of the NGF,
the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary
Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and other stakeholders before
the over two-month old strike by judicial and parliamentary workers
was suspended.

He noted that efforts were already under way in all states to
either constitute the States Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC)
or to inaugurate them, preparatory to the granting of full autonomy
to Legislature and Judiciary at the state level.

Part of the statement reads: “The return to work by the Judicial
Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff
Association of Nigeria (PASAN) which begins Tuesday after the
democracy day holiday, will top the agenda of the 31st NGF meeting
which takes place, virtually, on Wednesday 16th June 2021.

“Efforts are already under way in all states of the federation,
to either constitute the States Accounts Allocation Committees
(SAAC) or inaugurate them, preparatory to the granting of full
autonomy to the two arms of government, namely, the legislature and
the judiciary at the sub-national level.

“JUSUN and PASAN have been on a nationwide strike for more than
two months, while governors of the 36 states worked day-and-night
to establish modalities for their autonomy in conformity with the
constitutional provisions that stipulated thus.

“The Governors’ meeting will be briefed before deliberating on
the Memorandum of Action (MoA) of this main item on the agenda.

“According to the invitation to all the 36 governors as issued
by the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr
Asishana Bayo Okauru, the governors will be updated on the
activities of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid 19, a
regular feature of the governors’ meetings, by the Governor of
Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who heads the governors’ interface
with the PTF.

“The meeting will also review the agenda of the NEC which takes
place a day after. Other items on the agenda include the regular
update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and
Sustainability for results (SFTAS) to provide states’ status on
their DLI’s and upcoming deadlines.

“The meeting will also receive two presentations: Director
General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), will make a
presentation regarding unlocking liquidity through
sale/optimization of state-owned redundant/sub-optimal assets,
while the Policy Development Facility (PDF) bridge programme will
discuss diversification and non-oil export opportunities for states
post-Covid-19.

“The meeting will commence at 2pm but governors are expected to
start logging in from 1pm.”