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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Edo Speaker: Lawmakers Didn't Strip Assembly, Judiciary of Financial Autonomy

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The new Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idaiye, stated that lawmakers did not strip the assembly or judiciary of financial autonomy.
  • He clarified that while recurrent expenditure continues to go to these bodies, amendments address the management of capital funds to prevent abuse.
  • Governor Monday Okpebholo signed the relevant bills into law, emphasizing the need for the three arms of government to operate within their constitutional mandates.

Yekini Idaiye, the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has asserted that the legislature did not revoke the financial autonomy of the assembly or the judiciary. This clarification follows Governor Monday Okpebholo's signing of the Edo House of Assembly Funds Management Bill 2023 and the State Judiciary Financial Autonomy 2023 Amendment Bill into law.

The legislation did not remove the financial autonomy of the House of Assembly or the judiciary. The recurrent expenditure would continue to go to the Assembly and judiciary, while the amendment addressed the management of capital funds. It is the capital part of the funds that has issues. It was badly abused.

— Yekini IdaiyeThe Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly explained the details of the new financial management bills.

Idaiye explained that recurrent expenditures will continue to be managed by the assembly and judiciary. However, the amendments specifically target the management of capital funds, which he described as having been "badly abused." The governor's intervention aims to prevent further misuse of capital funds by having the executive manage these components through the appropriation process. Consequently, the assembly and judiciary will now submit proposals to the executive for approval before accessing funds for capital projects.

The autonomy is still in place; there is no fear on any side, and the unions should not have any fear.

— Yekini IdaiyeThe Speaker reassured that the financial autonomy of the assembly and judiciary remains intact.

"The autonomy is still in place; there is no fear on any side, and the unions should not have any fear," Idaiye assured, emphasizing that workers' salaries remain unaffected. He suggested that those expressing concern may not have been fully briefed on the amendments. Governor Okpebholo, while signing the bills, commended the lawmakers for their swift action. He expressed his delight in resolving what he called a "controversial law," stressing the importance of each government arm adhering to its constitutional responsibilities to avoid "deviating from these" and "changing the goal post."

I believe they have not been properly briefed, but the autonomy is still in order, and the workers’ salaries are not touched.

— Yekini IdaiyeThe Speaker addressed concerns about the impact of the amendments on workers and unions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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