The Conference of Speakers of State legislatures has commended governors of states that have commenced the implementation of the financial autonomy.
In a communique at the end of their conference in Asaba weekend, the speakers urged the other state governors yet to do so to follow suit as agreed in the Memorandum of Action signed by all the stakeholders.
They decried the spate of insecurity in the country; even as they commended the Federal Government on its efforts at fighting the insecurity in the country.
According to the conference, all major stakeholders should use the instrumentality of the ongoing review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to accommodate Community Policing and State Police in the country to effectively tackle the insecurity bedevilling the country;
The speakers also called on all the state houses of assembly to pass Funds Management Bill for Assent of the governors within the45 days window as agreed to by all the stakeholders.
Earlier, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa attributed the separation of powers, checks and balances as imperative for good governance to thrive in a presidential system of government.
In his keynote address at the 2021 Second Quarter meeting of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria held in Asaba Okowa stated that the relationship between the executive and legislature should be governed by trust, mutual respect and deference, with each bearing in mind the tenets of separation of powers as required in the presidential system of government.
He explained that the executive and legislative arms in a presidential system of government, had critical roles to play in promoting good governance, ensuring political stability and fostering sustainable economic growth.
In his remark, Chairman, Conference of Speakers, and Speaker of Bauchi state, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman had said that Delta was one of the few states in Nigeria used as a reference point on the issue of autonomy for state legislatures and the judiciary.
According to him, the two months strike by Judicial and Parliamentary workers wouldn’t have been necessary if other states had shown the same support as Delta did.
“We acknowledge the massive development in Delta and this couldn’t have been possible without the support of the state legislature.
Welcoming the speakers to the conference, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, said that in the comity of states, Delta enjoyed relative peace, in spite of insecurity pervading parts of the country “because we are a praying state.”
“We must give thanks to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the steps he took to secure the state,’’ he stated.
By Alphonsus Agborh,
Nigeria Tribune