Following the recent strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) across the country, the Oyo State House of Assembly has begun moves towards actualizing the financial autonomy of the two arms of government.
This was as a result of the bills on financial autonomy of both arms of government being presented at the first plenary of the state’s assembly on Tuesday, after the strike which lasted over two months has been called off.
The bills, which were presented separately, were co-sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, Hon. Akeem Adedibu, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, Hon. Yusuf Adebisi, Hon. Ayo Fatokun and Hon. Akeem Mustapha, who is the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and Public Finance.
While the legislative autonomy bill is titled “A bill for A Law for the management of fund accruing to the Oyo State House of Assembly from the consolidated revenue fund of the state, to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of the funds and for other related matters,” the judiciary autonomy bill is tagged “A bill for A Law for the management of fund accruing to the Judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the state, to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of the funds and for other related matters,”
Meanwhile, the proposed legislative financial autonomy bill has been read first and second times, and has been passed to the appropriate committee for further consideration.
Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who presided over the sitting, however, stated that the bill will be considered by all the legislative members at Caucus Room tomorrow to address all the grey areas in the bill.
Hon. Asimiyu Alarape and Minority Leader and Hon. Adeola Bamidele, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency, highlighted some areas that needed through consideration before the bill is passed. While Hon. Wumi Oladeji disclosed that the House should not hesitate if the service of an expert is required.
In order to ensure speedy implementation of the financial autonomy for both legislative and judiciary arms of government, the House also read for the first time, “State Account Allocation Committee Bill, 2021.”
The bill, according to the Majority Leader, is to make law for the establishment and composition of the State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC).
It was co-sponsored by by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, Hon. Akeem Adedibu, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, Hon. Yusuf Adebisi, Hon. Ayo Fatokun and Hon. Akeem Mustapha, who is the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and Public Finance.
