PASAN, NBA Protest Alleged Repeal Of LG Autonomy

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

BENIN CITY, EDO – Tension rose at the Edo State House of Assembly as members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Edo State chapter, joined by executives of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, protested an alleged move by lawmakers to repeal the law granting financial autonomy to local governments in the state.

The PASAN members occupied the Assembly chamber for several hours, preventing lawmakers from commencing plenary.

The protesters said they became aware of the alleged move after the House Order Paper was circulated, listing proposed amendments to laws governing financial autonomy for local governments.

The development reportedly triggered the mobilisation of the parliamentary workers, who stormed the chamber to register their opposition to what they described as an attempt to undermine financial autonomy.

The protesters expressed concern that any reversal of autonomy could have wider implications for the functioning of government institutions and the welfare of workers.

Speaking during the protest, Chairman of the NBA, Benin Branch, Idemudia Osifo, described the alleged move as embarrassing and said the association was opposed to 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.

He noted that 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.

Also speaking, former Chairman of the NBA, Benin Branch, Ede Asenoguan, described financial autonomy as a constitutional matter and questioned the rationale behind 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 stakeholders to be consulted 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.

When contacted for his reaction, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, said the lawmakers had been in an Executive Session and that he was unaware that workers had locked the chamber.

Idiaye also said he was not aware of any protest or plan to repeal the law granting financial autonomy.

However, shortly before plenary commenced at about 4:30 p.m., the Speaker addressed the agitated workers and clarified that the laws in question were to be amended, not repealed.