The crisis over financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature in Edo State escalated on Monday as members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) shut the gates of the Edo State House of Assembly, warning lawmakers against tampering with the existing autonomy laws.

The judicial workers, who stormed the Assembly complex with placards, prevented workers from gaining access to the premises, insisting that the proposed legislation before the House must be withdrawn.

The action came barely a week after the Majority Leader of the Assembly sponsored two bills seeking to repeal the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023, and the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law, 2023.

Although the Speaker, Idaiye Yekini, had clarified that the reference to “repeal” in the bills was an error and that the lawmakers intended to amend the laws, JUSUN said it was not convinced by the explanation.

The union argued that whether the laws were repealed or amended, the outcome could still undermine the financial independence of the judiciary and legislature, which it said was secured after years of struggle.

Speaking during the protest, Edo JUSUN Chairman, Comrade Orien Charles, said the union would resist any attempt to reverse the gains already made under the financial autonomy arrangement.

Charles said the judiciary had spent about 10 years fighting for financial autonomy and would not sit by and watch lawmakers introduce legislation capable of eroding the independence granted by the existing laws.

“We are here because of our financial autonomy. The House of Assembly, last week, wanted to repeal the financial autonomy for the judiciary. After agitation, they said it was an error and that they want to do an amendment,” he said.

According to him, the proposed amendment could be used to introduce a new framework that would effectively strip the judiciary and Assembly of the autonomy they currently enjoy.

He said, “They want to take away the autonomy. During the course of amendment, they will take away the autonomy and bring in another law that will not suit the judiciary and the House of Assembly.”

The Speaker had explained that the proposed amendment was intended to establish an agency that would promote accountability and ensure proper execution of projects under the autonomy arrangement.

However, the JUSUN chairman maintained that the union was opposed to both repeal and amendment, urging the Assembly leadership to abandon the proposed legislation entirely.

“We will not accept it because we suffered for it for 10 years before we got it. We will not agree. We are here to see the Speaker. What the Speaker says will determine our next line of action,” Charles said.

He appealed to the Speaker to listen to the union and stop the legislative process, warning that JUSUN would decide its next step based on the outcome of its engagement with the Assembly leadership.

The development has opened a fresh front in the relationship between the judiciary and legislature in Edo State, with JUSUN insisting that any attempt to alter the existing financial autonomy framework must be resisted.