Edo NLC Vows To Resist Moves By Lawmakers To Repeal, Amend 2021 Autonomy Law

 

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

The Edo State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist a bill presently before members of the Edo State House of Assembly, which seeks to repeal or/and amend the  Assembly and Judiciary Autonomy Law of 2021.

A statement Thursday in Benin City by the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Igbafen maintained that the development is a dangerous setback to the struggle for financial and administrative autonomy of the legislature and judiciary in the country.

Prof. Igbafen emphasized: “Any Bill seeking to amend or ticker with the autonomy law that would compromise the independence of the judiciary and legislature must be resisted. The control of the purse and personnel of the judiciary and legislature by the executive is antithetical to judicial and legislative impartiality in the state."

Prof. Igbafen called on the new Speaker Yekini Idiaye to immediately halt the move by lawmakers to repeal or amend the Law of 2021.

He described the move by the new leadership of the House of Assembly to ticker the with the Assembly and Judiciary Autonomy Law as unpopular, inconceivable, and anti-constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof. Igbafen said that the union would not hesitate to collaborate with critical stakeholders in the state to resist the amendment. 

The statement warned that any subterfuge attempts to undermine the autonomy of the legislature and judiciary in the state, and by extension, the nation's nascent democracy would be resisted by the collective will of the people.  

The caretaker committee chairman expressed solidarity with the members of the state wing of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), who are also kicking against the obnoxious process of amendment of the autonomy law.