A not-for-profit organization yearning for a better polity for Nigerians, 1001+Voices Initiative for People Empowerment, has lauded the recent agreement reached between Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and the State Governments for the implementation of autonomy in Nigeria.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Uwem-obongAnkak, “is of the opinion that this singular act, which is bringing to an end, the lingering industrial dispute, and subsequent paralysis of courts, is a welcome development.”
“That epochal development, which, fortunately also extended to the Legislature, another arm of government, and the Local Government Councils, a tier of government, was, to say the least, an exercise which execution will herald the clamored restructuring which Nigerians have sought for since the advent of the 4th Republic.”
“Lending his voice to this important development, the National Coordinator of 1001+Voices Initiative, Obong Ide Owodiong-Idemeko stated, ‘with this development, we might be seeing the beginning of restructuring in the Nigerian polity. As a political scientist, the most important tenet in a democracy is Separation of Powers and the Rule of Law. Where these are lacking, you are invariably inviting anarchy to the polity.’”
He stated further that he wishes all the contending issues arising from the agreement signed by the Federal Ministry of Labour, through the Minister, Dr Chris Ngige and Senator Ita Enang who represented the President; the Governor’s Forum represented by its Chairman, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and the Executive of JUSUN and other associated unions, will be adhered to, and the timeliness faithfully kept.
With this development, the Judiciary, Legislature, and the Local Government Councils across the Country are at the verge of becoming autonomous. 1001+Voices Initiative for Peoples’ Empowerment is very hopeful that since the contending interests have agreed to these timelines, the matter will be resolved amicably (including theinsistence by the Governors Forum for a Management Committee which will supervise the disbursement of funds to these various arms and tiers of government). Hopefully, this may herald a new phase in the fiscal management of resources and bring about sanity in fiscal responsibility in governance in Nigeria.
