Abia Lawmakers Commend President Buhari over Quest for State Assemblies’ Financial Autonomy

The Speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for its unrelenting quest to grant financial autonomy to State Houses of Assembly.

Orji stated this during the deliberation of a bill seeking to the establish Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission , which had gone through second reading on the floor of the hallowed chamber.

According to Orji, “The Bill has numerous merits that will be of immense benefit to the staff and Members of the Abia State House of Assembly.

“The Bill seeks to formalize the Financial Autonomy of the State House of Assembly. It will make the members to be Independent rather than being dependent on the Executive.”

“This Bill is not a new one. This bill was almost passed in the last House, except for few differences. We thank the Houses of Assembly that Supported and passed the financial bill into law, because, if the Houses did not support the autonomy, It would not have been passed by the National Assembly”, the Majority Leader of the house, Hon Solomon Akpulonu said.

“I am asking our Members to support this Bill because it is going to give autonomy and job security to Staff of this House of Assembly.

Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, urged the House to support the bill, because of its importance.

“I rise to add my support to the bill under consideration. Passage of the bill will improve the working conditions of this House”. He stated.

Last year, President Buhari had assented to the constitutional amendments granting autonomy to the two arms of government at the sub-national levels.

The Law allowsstate judiciary, legislature to directly access funds to their credit, and no longer through the state governors.

Mr Buhari also constituted the Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary in accordance with the 4th Alteration to the 1999 Constitution on December 9, 2018.

The 16-member panel, which had the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN as member, has since completed its mandate by submitting its report.