President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja said efforts to ensure autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary would further strengthen democracy and deepen inclusiveness of citizens by guaranteeing fairness for ordinary Nigerians.
Receiving Report of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, the president said government would study the report and recommendations, and take an appropriate decision.
“I went through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections. That’s why I want to stabilise the system so that others will not pass through the same experience.
“Both young and ordinary Nigerians depend on leadership to ensure justice is always done. So we must ensure that trust is not compromised. This administration will take the report seriously,’’ he said.
In his remark, the chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said implementation of the recommendations would entrench constitutionalism, democratic principles and separation of powers.
“The recommendations clearly spell out that if uniform modules for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and state judiciary are approved for implementation across 36 states, it will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s democratic principles, practices and public governance,’’ he said.
He said the committee had observed that most states honoured the constitutional provisions for financial autonomy in the breach, than in observance, noting that the legislature and judiciary remain the last hope of the common man and should be given autonomy.
He said the committee consulted with state governors, Chief Judges of states, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders, including members of the public.
The Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary was inaugurated by President Buhari on March 22, 2019, to fashion out strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and state judiciary in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended).
He said President Muhammadu Buhari would soon issue an Executive Order on the implementation of the independence of state legislature and judiciary.
He said the Executive Order would bring into effect the provisions of Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The independence has already been established by the Constitution so, it is now about the implementation of the modalities and amongst the recommendations made to Mr. President is an Executive Order by the President designed to give effect to the implementation of section 121 which Constitutionally establishes the independence of the two arms of government.
“So, it is about the application, Operation and enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution and with the signing of the Executive Order, l believe the necessary formalities of the whole hearted implementation of this provisions will come into effect,” he said.
On the appropriateness of his continued membership of the committee despite dissolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by the president in May the president, Malami said although he was longer Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the president has constitutional rights to give him any assignment
“I am here based on the powers of Mr. President who exercises the powers of his prerogatives to appoint anyone, and as a Nigerian for that matter. This remains a prerogative of Mr. President” he said.
