The Federal Government, FG, says the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary will commence next week.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige made this known at the end of a conciliatory meeting to resolve the strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN.
Signing an agreement on the modalities and timelines for the commencement of full financial autonomy for the state judiciary and legislative arms of government, Dr Ngige noted that the Unions would call off their prolonged strike as soon as implementation begins.
The deal was brokered by the committee on the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary arms of government.
Among the signatories to the document are Ekiti State Governor as Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the representatives of the unions, including Ngige who signed as a witness.
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According to the agreement, all states are required to pass and assent to the Funds Management Law and the state House of Assembly Service Commission Law as well as put in place implementation structures within a time-frame not exceeding 45 days from the date of signing the document.
Speaking on the development, the Special Assistant to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang commended Dr Ngige for the matured handling of the labour crisis in Kaduna and the resolution of the complex issues involved in the autonomy for the Legislature and Judiciary.
Senator Enang blamed the past administrations for turning blind eye to the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary for 21 years, adding that the Governors had studied the document and were in agreement with it.
He clarified that the implementation would commence with the distribution of the April allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC.
