GOVERNORS OF THE THIRTY-SIX STATES PROPOSES A NOVEL IDEA TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE OVER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT GRANT FINANCIAL AUTONOMY TO STATE JUDICIARIES AND LEGISLATIVES.
Written by miebaka ikiriko on April 20, 2021
Governors of the thirty-six States of the Federation have proposed a novel idea to resolve the impasse over the implementation of the constitutional provisions that grant financial autonomy to State Judiciaries and Legislatives.
The impasse triggered the ongoing indefinite strike by judicial workers, which began on April 6, to press for the implementation of the law.
The Governors in a report by a Committee, chaired by Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and which was set up by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum proposed the payment of a minimum irreducible amount monthly to the two arms of government in each state for their operations as against the constitutional provisions for funds due to the judiciary and the legislature in each state to be on a first-line charge.
Following the failure of the State Governors to implement section 121 of 1999 Constitution as amended which makes votes for State Judiciaries and legislatives a first-line charge on the consolidated revenue.
President Muhammadu Buhari had signed Executive Order 10 to enforce the constitution.
But the Governors resisted the order as well as three separate count judgements that declared their action unconstitutional.
The Governors are also expected to meet today with Gambari to discuss the details.