In a swift reaction to the protest by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in solidarity with Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) following the refusal of governors to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has backed down and set May 2021 as implementation date.
NGF also agreed the same date for the state’s legislative arm of government financial autonomy implementation.
Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the assurance after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the Statehouse.
He stated that the Governors Forum has never been opposed to the issue of financial autonomy and that the governors, the speakers, and judges are on the same page.
He further disclosed that upon emerging 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 today, an agreement has been reached, thus reiterating that Nigerians can expect implementation of the agreement no later than May.
It will be recalled that leadership of the NBA had earlier on Friday directed its branch chairmen nationwide to lead peaceful protest to government houses in their states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement judiciary’s financial autonomy.
The NGF’s comments regarding the matter come few hours after members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a peaceful march at the National Assembly in solidarity with judiciary workers who are protesting in favour of financial autonomy in the country.
