BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria has called on the Nigeria Governors Forum to immediately commence the implementation of the constitutional provision that provides financial autonomy for the legislative arm of government.
The Anambra State House of Assembly workers of the union made the call in Awka, the State capital, during a peaceful demonstration to drive home their stand on the ongoing nationwide strike by the association.
The legislative workers carried placards with various inscriptions as they blocked the entrance gate leading to the State House of Assembly.
The Anambra State House of Assembly had adjourned sitting till the 20th of April after it went on Easter break.
However, the lawmakers could not sit as the gates to the legislative building were blocked by members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, who chanted solidarity songs.
On the placards were several calls and demands like ‘Nigeria governors forum uphold and ensure that the constitution guarantees separation of power’, ‘Our autonomy or Nothing’, ‘Legislative autonomy is the bedrock of democracy’ among others.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of PASAN in the state, Comrade Clinton Onubuiyi, said for democracy to thrive, there must be total separation of powers among the three arms of government, a course the workers were ready to uphold.
According to him, it has become imperative for the governors forum to without further deliberations grant the constitutional provisions which he said was healthy for the growth of the nation’s democracy.
He noted that PASAN was aware of the terms and conditions set out for implementation but would not settle for anything less than total and immediate granting of legislative autonomy.
Also, member of the association, Comrade Onyinye Ibeh, regretted the three weeks old strike had adversely affected them and appealed to the governors to do the needful.
Clerk of the Anambra state House of Assembly, Mr. Pius Udo, confirmed that the lawmakers could not reconvene due to the ongoing strike by PASAN.
Newsmen equally gathered that the Lawmakers had planned to reconvene to enable them to consider the extension of tenure for transition committee Chairman in the 21 Local Government Area of the State but could not sit due to the strike.
