Workers threaten to shut n’assembly over financial autonomy for state assemblies

February 8, 2021 7:26 pm

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has threatened to shut down the national and state assemblies over the non-implementation of financial autonomy.

The workers issued a 21-day ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state assemblies or risk nationwide strike action.

The ultimatum takes effect from January 27.

In May, Buhari signed an executive order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and judiciary across the 36 states of the country.

However, the president suspended the gazetting of the order after meeting with governors in June.

In a notice, Muhammad Usman, PASAN president, said they have run out of patience after waiting for more than two years for financial autonomy to be granted to parliament in the states.

“Our members have run out of patience and have resolved to, forthwith, put an end to condoning further delays to the implementation of the financial autonomy for state houses of assembly,” he said in the notice.

“Consequent upon the forgoing, the union has resolved to in defense of democracy, issue a 21 days ultimatum to our employers and all other bodies charged with the implementation of letters of our constitution including Federal Government, the presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy for State Judiciary and legislature to ensure full implementation of financial autonomy in all the 36 State Houses of the Federation as provided in section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and in Executive Order 10.

“Failure to meet the above demand at the end of 21 days ultimatum will leave the union with no other option than to direct all its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike.

“By implication, the nationwide strike shall see the shutdown of National Assembly, the National Assembly Service Commissions, all State Houses of Assembly, all State Houses of Assembly Service Commissions among others.”