Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASA) in Edo State, on Monday, barricaded the gates of the state house of assembly over the non-implementation of financial autonomy in legislative houses in Nigeria.
The peaceful protest that temporarily prevented the state lawmakers from accessing their chambers is directly linked to the expiration of the ultimatum previously issued by the union members across the country to the Federal Government.
Speaking to newsmen during the protest, the Edo State PASAN Chairman, Umaru Farouk Haruna, said the national president of PASAN, Comrade Mohammed Usman, directed all chairmen and Secretaries to mobilise their members for maximum compliance with the protest action.
He stated that the nationwide peaceful protest was being complied with by his members, noting that this was after the expiration of a 2-day ultimatum given the; federal government and the 36 states government to implement the financial Autonomy.
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 (Monday), nothing has been done.
“We are not just fighting for the staff of legislators, 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.
” This is because the Houses of Assembly on their own dare not speak because they are not autonomous bodies. This is the struggle we are in.”, he lamented.
. TheWitness
