Abuja Lawyer and Executive Assistant to Enugu State Governor, Mr Ifesi Nwodo has said that full implementation of autonomy for the Judiciary and State Legislature will amount to a right step in the right direction.
Mr Nwodo stated this during a programme aired on NTA24 on Friday.
“The Act was passed ln 2018 and President Muhammadu Buhari had constituted a committee headed by the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami to ensure it’s full implementations”
“When funds appropriated to these two arms of Government at the State level, are released to them directly, it enhances efficiency, transparency and accountability in government.” Nwodo asserted.
“I totally align with legislature and judiciary autonomy. It is a necessary precondition for an enduring democracy.
Speaking further on the implementation expectations for governance at the state level, Mr Nwodo said the judiciary will be able to deliver justice without fear or favour.
Similarly, Jide Ojo, a public analyst who was also on the programme expressed the same views as Nwodo.
“A democracy without an independent judiciary that is able to obliterate the conflict in government and the injustices that people suffer is a danger and a lot of concern for those of us working in the human rights sphere,” Mr Ojo said.
He urged governors “to work hard to ensure that the benefits of these amendments by the National Assembly is realised.”
Background
President Buhari signed a bill which allows state judiciary to directly access funds to their credit, and no longer through the state governors last year.
in accordance with the 4th Alteration to the 1999 Constitution on December 9, 2018, Mr Buhari also constituted the Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary
On March 22, President Buhari inaugurated an implementation committee.
The 16-member panel which is chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the presidential adviser on National Assembly (Senate), Mr Enang, is secretary has the Nigerian Bar Association’s President, Paul Usoro, SAN, as member.
The Committee ended a 2-day retreat in Abuja on Friday.
“The retreat” it said, ” was to provide a broad based platform for stakeholders to brainstorm and articulate an effective national strategy for the implementation of autonomy of States’ Legislature and Judiciary,”
The Retreat was attended by stakeholders from the Legislature, Judiciary, Representatives of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Representatives of Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria, Civil Society Organisations, among others.
