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Edo State House of Assembly: PASAN Members Demand Autonomy

by Ikem Emmanuel
written by Ikem Emmanuel 3 minutes read
In a resolute display of solidarity and determination, members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) in Edo State have taken a stand for legislative autonomy, effectively shutting the gates to the Edo State House of Assembly. The action comes after the expiration of an ultimatum for the implementation of financial autonomy in legislative houses across Nigeria.
The impassioned protest unfolded at the Assembly, preventing lawmakers from accessing the chamber, and serves as a reminder of the vital importance of autonomy in upholding democratic principles.
Demand for Legislative Autonomy
At the forefront of this protest is the call for legislative autonomy, a constitutional matter that has gained significant traction in recent years. The National Assembly had passed legislation on this issue, which was subsequently assented to by the former president, Muhammadu Buhari. However, the implementation of this autonomy has been a protracted process, prompting PASAN members to take a stand.
Umaru Farouk Haruna, the Chairman of PASAN in Edo State, emphasized the gravity of the situation. He noted that the delay in implementing autonomy not only affects the staff but also hinders the effective functioning of legislative bodies in the country. When legislative houses lack autonomy, the system’s checks and balances are compromised, and the intended separation of powers becomes theoretical rather than operational.
Mr. Haruna further highlighted the role of legislative bodies in deepening the dividends of democracy for all Nigerians. Autonomy is the key to ensuring that these institutions can stand on their own feet, making them a powerful force to hold the government accountable and ask the necessary questions.
Read Also:
A Nationwide Protest for Autonomy
The protest in Edo State is part of a nationwide industrial action organized by PASAN to demand autonomy for legislative houses across the country. PASAN members have mobilized to ensure maximum compliance with the call for autonomy, and the protest action has sent a clear message to both the government and the governors of the 36 states in Nigeria.
The protest, which began after the expiration of a two-day ultimatum, was further extended by one week before coming to an end on October 27, 2023. The delay in implementing autonomy in legislative houses is seen as a hindrance to true democracy and an obstacle to the fulfillment of Nigeria’s democratic potential.
A Struggle for Democracy
The struggle for legislative autonomy is more than just a battle for the rights of parliamentary staff; it’s a battle for the fundamental principles of democracy. A functional democracy relies on the separation of powers, and autonomy for legislative houses is an essential component of this separation. It ensures that lawmakers can fulfill their roles as representatives of the people, holding the executive branch accountable and safeguarding the interests of the citizens.
As the members of PASAN continue their fight for autonomy, they echo the voices of many Nigerians who yearn for a democracy that operates at its full potential. The struggle is a reminder that democracy thrives when its fundamental principles are upheld, and the separation of powers remains a vital part of this democratic fabric.
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Parliamentary Workers (PASAN) Suspend Strike
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JUST IN: Parliamentary Workers (PASAN) Suspend Strike

by Victor Ndubuisi
written by Victor Ndubuisi 1 minutes read

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has suspended its strike to allow the implementation of the Memorandum of Action.

In a statement on Friday jointly signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammed Usman, and Ag. Secretary-General, Comrade Ikechukwu Alaribe, PASAN directed its members to resume work on Monday.

It commended President Muhammadu Buhari, his Chief of Staff, Minister of Labour and Employment, the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Implementation of Financial Autonomy at the state level, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and all other parties who facilitated the peaceful resolution of the strike action via an MOA.

State Governors, JUSUN, PASAN Agree On Implementation Timelines

The statement reads: “That after an appraisal of the Nationwide Industrial Strike Action so far and consideration of calls from well-meaning institutions and members of the general public to suspend the strike action that PASAN does hereby suspend the Nationwide Industrial Strike Action to facilitate the passage of necessary legislation as contained in the (MOA). The strike action is only suspended for 45 days window starting from Monday 14″ of June 2021 to 29” of July, 2021.

“The Union frowns at the reported unnecessary intimidation and victimization of members during lawful industrial strike action. We shall no longer tolerate any further victimization of members due to their participation in the strike action as directed by the Union and granted by the extant Labour Laws.”

 

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State Governors, JUSUN, PASAN Agree On Implementation Timelines

by AnaedoOnline
written by AnaedoOnline 4 minutes read

State governors and the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria have signed an agreement on the modalities and timelines for the commencement of full financial autonomy for the state judiciary and legislative arms of government.

The deal was brokered by the committee on the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary arms of government led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting with the unions in Abuja which ended late last night, Ngige described the event as historic coming after several attempts and failures to implement the constitutional provision by successive governments.

He said, “At the end of the tortuous journey we had undertaken this evening , we have signed an agreement, not a Memorandum of Action as such but a framework for each of the state governments to grant autonomy to their state legislature and judiciary.

“As I said earlier, the governors have studied this document and they are in agreement with it. So by Monday or Tuesday, we are going to trigger off the section B and D which says governments of the respective states shall credit the accounts of the legislative and judicial arms or government with a pro-rata amounts due to each arms of government under the 2021 appropriation law.”

Among the signatories to the document are Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal (for the governors); and the representatives of the unions, including Ngige who signed as a witness.

According to the agreement, all states are required to pass and assent to the Funds Management Law and the state House of Assembly Service Commission Law as well as put in place implementation structures within a time-frame not exceeding 45 days from the date of signing this document.

JUSUN

JUSUN

The agreement which has the input and recommendations from all the parties, such the governors, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and JUSUN and the leadership of the parliamentary workers is expected to be signed later by the governors and the leadership of the two unions.

The agreement stated that various Fund Management Laws should mandate the State Accountants General to release appropriated funds directly to each arm as statutory transfers beginning with the next federal allocation.

The two unions had insisted that they would only call off their industrial action once the states transfers funds from the next federal allocation directly to the accounts of the judiciary and legislative arms.

Read Also: The Reason I Was Absent At The Meeting With PASAN, JUSUN – Ngige Reveals

Under the agreement, there will also be a State Account Allocation Committee to be given legislative backing in the various Fund Management Laws and charged with the responsibility to oversee the distribution of available resources to each arm of government.

Membership of SAAC will reflect the template of the FAAC as obtainable at the federal level.

The document read, “Every State Commissioner of Finance and State Accountant General shall on a monthly basis furnish the Committee with the revenue performance of the State within a stipulated timeline not exceeding seven days after each FAAC meeting.

“Based on the revenue receipt, evaluations and the needs of each arm, the committee shall work out an appropriate budget release based on the appropriation for each arm of Government for that year.”

JUSUN/PASAN To Go On With Strike Action Until Demands Are Met

The memorandum further stated that every state shall enact Funds Management Laws for their state judiciary and state legislature, which will grant each arm the power to manage its capital and recurrent expenditure in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6(5)(a) – (i), 81(3), 121(3) & Item 21(e) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the country and other relevant laws.

Read Also: Strike: Absence Of Chris Ngige Stalls Meeting Between FG And JUSUN Members

It added that capital expenditure shall include purchase of vehicles, and office equipment, construction of legislative buildings, renovations, repairs, maintenance and other incidentals.

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Yoruba Nation Rally: Stay Away From Lagos – Sanwo Olu Tells Igboho, Akintoye
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JUSUN Strike: Protesters Block Osun Deputy Gov Convoy

by Victor Ndubuisi
written by Victor Ndubuisi 1 minutes read

Hundreds of protesters, members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, on Thursday blocked the convoy of Osun Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi during a protest in Osogbo, on Thursday.

Recall that JUSUN and the NBA, have been protesting in different parts of the country against the alleged unwillingness of the government to respect the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

The protesters in Osogbo on Thursday morning started the protest from the High Court, Oke-Fia and marched to the Customary Court through to Federal High Court in Osogbo.

JUSUN: Anambra Lawyers To Embark On Mass Protest Over Strike

The protesting members of the two unions were, however, trekking to the State Government Secretariat, when the convoy of the Deputy Governor ran into their midst.

The protesters refused the Deputy Governor’s convoy access and blocked the convoy with placards and banners as the security details implored them to give way.

The convoy later managed to avoid the protesters by passing through a Petrol Station close to the State Government Secretariat, Abere.

Judiciary Workers Autonomy: CJN Meets JUSUN Leaders, Seeks End To Strike

The vehicles entered through the first entrance of the filling station and exited through the second gate to boycott the protesters.

 

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Lawyers Commend Judiciary Workers For Calling Off Strike
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Strike: Absence Of Chris Ngige Stalls Meeting Between FG And JUSUN Members

by Victor Ndubuisi
written by Victor Ndubuisi 3 minutes read

Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) were yesterday left stranded as the meeting proposed to settle the probem between them and the Federal Government did not hold because Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige was absent.

The meeting was scheduled for 3pm but Ngige, who serves as the conciliator, was not at the venue when the workers left after waiting for almost two hours.

JUSUN National Public Relations Officer Comrade Koin Selepreye said it was wrong for the minister to keep them waiting when the invitation said the meeting would start by 3pm.

STRIKE: JUSUN President Involved In Auto Crash

She added that the union would always be available for any meeting to resolve the strike, but said members will not accept it when the meeting time is not respected.

National President of PASAN Comrade Mohammed Usman berated Ngige for ‘the unfair treatment meted to the workers’. He said they respect time and won’t accept being kept waiting.

Efforts by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Peter Yarfa, and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang, to prevail on the unions to return for the meeting were unsuccessful.

But Ngige, in a statement, explained that the meeting was postponed to enable the government’s negotiating team harmonise all issues from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at separate meetings with tiers and arms of government.

Judiciary Workers Autonomy: CJN Meets JUSUN Leaders, Seeks End To Strike

Ngige said this was necessary to ensure the meeting with the unions come with a Memorandum of Action which is implementable with time lines.

The statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, reads: “There is no point rushing to do a meeting that will be fruitless. The judiciary, Governors’ Forum and even the Presidency are involved in this negotiation because the meeting held yesterday was at the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

“The arising documents are not yet properly harmonised. It will therefore not be fruitful to hold a negotiation where people speak from irreconcilable positions. It won’t help us and it won’t help the unions either.

JUST IN: JUSUN Evicts Workers At Federal High Court Lagos

“The reason is to ensure that the agreement reached at the end of our meeting here is put into action, with timelines for implementation. So if we don’t have a paper that is ready to go, then there will be no point for the talk shop.”

 

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