Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in Edo State shut down the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday, following the expiration of the deadline for the adoption of financial autonomy in the country’s legislative institutions.
The members were unable to enter the chamber due to the circumstances, which escalated into a demonstration in front of the Assembly.
At the start of the nationwide strike on Monday, Umaru Farouk Haruna, Chairman of PASAN Edo State Chapter, stated that PASAN’s national president, Comrade Mohammed Usman, had asked all chairmen and secretaries to organise members for maximum compliance.
He added that the nationwide peaceful protest was being complied with by Edo State PASAN members after the expiration of two days ultimatum given to the government and governors of the 36 states to implement autonomy in all legislative Houses of the country, which was further extended by one week and ended October 27, 2023.
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, nothing has been done. The 36 states of Houses of Assembly, you can call them rubber stamps. They can’t stand on their feet simply because they are not autonomous. We are not just fighting for the staff, 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. The Houses of Assembly dare not speak because they are not autonomous bodies. This is the struggle we are in,” he added.