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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Tension has gripped the Edo State House of Assembly as members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and executives of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin cranch, protested an alleged move by lawmakers to repeal the law granting financial autonomy to local governments in the state.
The development disrupted legislative business as PASAN members occupied the hallowed chamber for several hours, preventing lawmakers from commencing plenary.
The workers said they mobilised after sighting the House Order Paper, which they claimed contained items proposing changes to laws relating to financial autonomy.
The protesters expressed concern that any attempt to reverse the autonomy law could undermine the independence of government institutions and adversely affect workers’ welfare.
Addressing the protesters, Chairman of the NBA, Benin branch, Idemudia Osifo, described the reported move as embarrassing, insisting that the association would resist any attempt to undermine financial autonomy.
“There is panic in the public. The NBA is interested in the outcome of this process that is about to be initiated by the House of Assembly, and we do not support the withdrawal of the autonomy enjoyed by these institutions.”
Osifo said financial autonomy had brought significant benefits to the affected institutions and urged the lawmakers to sustain the policy.
“The implications are obvious. We are going back to the time of hardship, a time of mistrust. We are witnesses as to the benefit the autonomy has afforded these institutions and we want to sustain it,” he said.
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Also speaking, former Chairman of the NBA, Benin Branch, Ede Asenoguan, described financial autonomy as a constitutional matter and questioned the rationale for any attempt to reverse it.
Asenoguan said such a move would not be in the interest of the state or its development, stressing the need for consultation with stakeholders before any decision was taken.
“Two years ago, the Assembly passed a law granting autonomy to the other arms of government. The plan to remove autonomy is not in the interest of the state; it is not in the interest of development,” he said.
However, the controversy took a different turn shortly before plenary commenced at about 4:30 p.m., when Speaker of the Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, addressed the agitated workers.
Idiaye clarified that the laws listed on the Order Paper were to be amended and not repealed, apparently seeking to allay the fears that had triggered the protest.
Earlier, when contacted for his reaction, the Speaker said lawmakers had been in an Executive Session and that he was unaware that workers had occupied the chamber.
He also said he was not aware of any protest or plan to repeal the financial autonomy law.
The clarification came after hours of uncertainty and protest over what PASAN and the NBA feared could amount to a reversal of the financial independence granted to the affected institutions.
