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Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in Edo State, on Monday, shut the gates to the Edo State House of Assembly, following the expiration of the ultimatum for the implementation of financial autonomy in legislative houses in the country.
The situation, which developed into a protest in front of the Assembly, prevented the lawmakers from accessing the chamber.
At the commencement of the nationwide industrial action on Monday, Umaru Farouk Haruna, Chairman PASAN Edo state Chapter, said the national president of PASAN, Comrade Mohammed Usman, had directed all chairmen and secretaries to mobilise members for maximum compliance.
He added that the nationwide peaceful protest was being complied with by Edo State PASAN members after the expiration of two days ultimatum given to the government and governors of the 36 states to implement autonomy in all legislative Houses of the country, which was further extended by one week and ended October 27, 2023.
He said, “The issue of autonomy is a constitutional matter. You know it has been passed by the National Assembly and was assented to by the immediate past president Muhammadu Buhari.
“All we need is for the government to start implementation. But as we speak today, nothing has been done. The 36 states of Houses of Assembly, you can call them rubber stamps. They can’t stand on their feet simply because they are not autonomous. We are not just fighting for the staff, we are fighting to deepen the dividends of democracy for Nigerians.
“The essence of separation of power is when autonomy is in operation, but as we speak today, the governors are doing whatever they like and nobody is asking them questions. The Houses of Assembly dare not speak because they are not autonomous bodies. This is the struggle we are in,” he added.
