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… says legislature, judiciary autonomy may kickoff May
Egena Sunday Ode
State governors said Monday that they had been quiet on the allegations by the Edo State governor , Godwin Obaseki’s that the Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN) had printed N60 billion in March to support federal allocation to states, because the issue in question did not require their comments.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had last week denied the allegations while the CBN governor , Godwin Emefiele had described the claims as unfortunate and totally inappropriate”.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the State House, Abuja, Ekiti State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum ( NGF) , Kayode Fayemi said point blank that the issue did not require a statement from them.
His words: “It’s because for us, this is not an issue that requires a statement from the governors. The Honourable Minister of Finance has dealt with it and the issue is out there for you to deal with.
On the lingering legislative and judicial autonomy , he insisted that all the principal actors are on the same page saying the implementation may kick off in May.
According to him “But for us we’re here for legislative and judicial autonomy and the governors, the speakers and the judge are on the same page, as far as this issue is concerned.
“We just emerged from a meeting with the Solicitor-General of the Federation, the representatives of the judiciary, the representatives of the Conference of Speakers, and House of Representatives and we are on all fours. An agreement has been reached.
“First, the issue is about implementation. There has been no objection from governors on judicial and legislative autonomies, as a matter of fact, it would not have passed if governors were not in support in the first instance, in the state Assemblies.
“So that issue has been fully and holistically addressed, but we don’t just want to agree to something on paper without working out the modalities for implementation. Thankfully, the meeting we have just emerged from, with the Chief of Staff to the President chairing, has worked out the modalities to the satisfaction of all parties.
On when Nigerians should expect the implementation, he said “As soon as the final document that is being cleaned up emerges, that is preparatory to implementation.
“We’re not going to put a timeframe in the air, but it will be implemented as soon as possible, definitely no later than the end of May 2021.
He also appealed to judicial workers to call off their strike in the interest of the nation.
“In the interest of the nation, we believe that the striking workers should return to their offices because as far as this has gone, we have met with all the parties concerned, the President, through the Chief of Staff, has also been seized of this matter and has been monitoring what has been happening .
“I think we’re basically at a position where whether you speak to the Conference of Speakers’ chairperson or you speak to me or you speak to the representative of the judiciary or you speak to the Solicitor-General of the Federation, you will hear that we’re speaking with one voice on the implementation and no later than May, you will start seeing the implementation of the agreement that we’ve reached,” he added.
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