Governors finally bow to pressure, fix date to implement autonomy for state assemblies, judiciary
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has finally agreed to implement autonomy for state legislative and judiciary, with effect from May 2021.
TheCable reports that the Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, who is the NGF chairman, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday, April 19.
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.
Channels TV also reports that he insisted the governors never objected to full autonomy for the state assemblies and judiciary, adding that “the issue is about 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.”
Prominent lawyer reacts 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.
In a related report, after months of speculations about his 2023 presidential ambition, the chairman of the NGF, Kayode Fayemi, said that he would cross the bridge when he gets there.
The governor said no serious politician would ignore the opportunity of becoming the president of Nigeria.
Fayemi said this on a Channel’s Televisions programme, ‘Hard Copy’, which was televised on Friday, March 26.
The governor, who played a vital role in the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, refused to state categorically if he would be contesting for the presidency in 2023.
