President Muhammadu Buhari has requested Conference of State Assembly Speakers to foorward a formal requesting his office to issue an Executive Order mandating the Accountant General of the Federation to deduct allocations for the State Legislature and State Judiciary from source during the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting for appropriate action of any State of the Federation that fails to release the budget of the State Legislature and State Judiciary to them in line with the Financial Autonomy guaranteed by the provision of section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.This followed verbal request by Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria, who visited President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Wednesday.The Chairman of Speaker’s Conference, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos state House of Assembly led the Kwara state Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi represented by his Deputy, Hon. Adetiba Raphael Olarewaju, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin of Oyo state Assembly, among others on the courtesy visit to Mr. President.The Speakers, who seize the opportunity to congratulate on his election victory stated that Buhari’s reelection during the 2019 Polls is a reinforcement of the people’s earlier trust and confidence in his capacity and vision to move the country to a greater height;The legislators who commended the President for his doggedness in the fight against corruption and insurgency in the country also appreciated him for granting Presidential Assent to the 4th Alteration to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which, among others, grants financial autonomy to both the State Legislature and Judiciary, and setting up an Implementation Committee to that effect, noting that it was a reflection of the President’s strong passion for an independent legislature as an essential ingredient for good governance in the country.“Mr President, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) vests in you sir the all-important role of protecting the sanctity of the Constitution, and we acknowledge that you have done extremely well in this regard for the effective delivery of good governance. Your Excellency, recall the 4th Alteration to the Constitution, having been passed and ratified by the National Assembly and the State Assemblies respectively, received your gracious assent on Friday the 8th June, 2018. Among other amendments, the 4th Alteration Act grants financial autonomy to both the state legislature and judiciary.”“We therefore humbly call on Mr President to issue an Executive Order mandating the Accountant General of the Federation to deduct allocations for the State Legislature and State Judiciary from source during the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting, of any State of the Federation that fails to release the budget of the State Legislature and State Judiciary to them in line with the Financial Autonomy guaranteed by the provision of section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended”, the statement reads.The Speakers also lend their voices to calling on Mr. President for consideration of decongesting Exclusive Legislative List for Concurrent Legislative List.Speaking on behalf of the Speakers, Obasa said “We believe, some items such as Railway, Police could better be legislated upon by the states for better turn-around of our economy and more secured nation. Similarly, while we appreciate many landmark policies introduced by this administration in the health sector, we want to appeal to Your Excellency to charge the relevant Ministries and Agencies with a view to ensuring better access to essential health facilities and Medicare by the masses at the grassroots.”EndIbrahim Sheriff .A.S. A., Media to the Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly
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