The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, yesterday assured that issues surrounding the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature at the state level will be completed by May.
Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayose, who is the NGF chairman, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday, April 19.
The assurance by the governors came just as lawyers in various states across the country staged peaceful protests yesterday to demand autonomy for the judiciary.
Fayemi said the decision was reached in a meeting attended by federal lawmakers, representatives of the judiciary and legislative staff, and the chief of staff to the president, Ibrahim Gambari.
The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, had embarked on nationwide strike over inability of state governors to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary and legislature at the state levels.
The governors had earlier said that they are not against granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and legislature at the state level but noted that they had issues with the terms of implementation.
Fayemi said: “There has been no objection from governors on judicial and legislative autonomies. As a matter of fact, it would not have passed if governors were not in support in the first instance, in the state assemblies.”
Reacting to the development, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Bartholomew Aguebodo, has said that financial autonomy would allow judges to have a say in their own affairs.
Aguebodo explained that the principles of separation of powers will be cut short if the implementation of financial autonomy is denied.
