Autonomy: Abia Assembly Passes Laws on the Management of Funds for the Legislature and the Judiciary

Following the need to put Abia State at the same pedestal with what is obtainable at the federal level and, in response to the national clamour for the independence of both the Legislative and Judiciary Arms of Government at both the Federal and State levels pursuant to achieving full autonomy for them, Abia State House of Assembly at plenary of Monday, July 5, passed H.A.B. 39 – A Bill for a Law to Establish Guidelines for the Management of Funds of the Abia State House of Assembly and r Related Matters into Law. It is to be cited as The Abia State House of Assembly Fund Management Law.

Similarly, H.A.B. 42 – A Bill for a Law to Establish Guidelines for the Management of the Funds of Abia State Judiciary and for Other Related Matters was also passed into Law. It is to be cited as the Abia State Judiciary Fund Management Law.

Passage of the two Bills followed their considerations at the Committee of the Whole and their Third Reading at the floor of the House.

Recall that the clamour for the autonomy of both the Legislature and the Judiciary at both the Federal and State levels recently led to a nationwide strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) which crippled activities at the courts and the State Houses of Assembly. The strike actions were eventually called off after the Presidency and the 36 State Governors gave their commitment to support the autonomy of the two Arms when passed by the lawmaking institutions.

The Laws (H.A.B. 39 and H.A.B. 42) as passed by the Abia State House of Assembly therefore addresses the concerns of both JUSUN and PASAN in particular and Nigerians in general, and further ensures the independence of both the Legislature and the Judiciary, while enhancing the practice of true federation in Abia State.