The Edo state House of Assembly, Monday amended the financial autonomy laws governing the legislature and judiciary and, within hours, transmitted the amended legislation to Governor Monday Okpebholo for assent.
The governor subsequently signed the two bills into law at the Government House, Benin City, in a move that came despite protests by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The speed with which the amendment was passed and assented to has heightened concerns among workers and other stakeholders who had opposed the proposed changes to the financial autonomy arrangements granted to the Assembly and judiciary under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Assembly had, on August 19, listed two bills on its Order Paper for consideration — the “A Bill for a Law to Repeal the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023” and “A Bill for a Law to Repeal the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law, 2023.”
The move triggered protests by Assembly workers, with PASAN demanding clarification from the leadership of the House.
PASAN had argued that its members fought for the financial autonomy granted to the legislature and would resist any attempt to reverse the arrangement.
Addressing the protesters, the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, said the House was not seeking to repeal the laws but to amend them.
He explained, “the proposed changes are targeted at the management of capital expenditure and would not affect recurrent expenditure, including workers’ salaries.”
At plenary on Monday, the lawmakers proceeded with consideration of the proposed amendments during the Committee of the Whole.
The motion for the consideration of the amendment to the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Osezua Ojezele, and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Osawonyi Atu, representing Orhionmwon I Constituency.
Ojezele said the amendment was designed to strengthen government institutions, curb corruption and fraud, and protect the autonomy of the legislature.
Similarly, the amendment to the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023, was moved by Ojezele and seconded by Hon. Addeh Emankhu Isibor, representing Esan North-East I Constituency.
The Assembly supported the amendments, arguing that they were necessary to strengthen accountability and checks and balances in the management of funds allocated for capital projects involving the second and third arms of government.
The lawmakers maintained that the existing arrangement did not provide adequate institutional mechanisms for monitoring financial transactions, particularly the disbursement and utilisation of capital funds.
Following the passage of the bills, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to prepare and transmit clean copies of the amended legislation to the governor for assent.
The development was followed by the governor’s signing of the bills into law at Government House.
Okpebholo, while signing the legislation, commended the lawmakers for what he described as the swift passage of the bills, saying he was pleased that the controversy surrounding the laws had been resolved.
“I am indeed delighted because this has become like a controversial law, I must confess to you,” the governor said.
The governor expressed concern that funds earmarked for capital projects were allegedly not reaching the people, stressing that such projects remained among the most visible means through which government could improve the lives of residents.
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