The Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch, has joined members of the Edo State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in opposing reported plans by the Edo State House of Assembly to withdraw financial autonomy from the legislature and judiciary.
The protest followed the appearance of two proposed bills on the Assembly’s Order Paper seeking to repeal the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023, and the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law, 2023.
According to The Guardian, PASAN members took over the Assembly chamber for several hours to prevent lawmakers from commencing proceedings after learning of the proposed legislation.
Speaking during the protest, Chairman of the NBA Benin Branch, Idemudia Osifo, described the reported repeal plan as embarrassing and contrary to the interests of Edo State.
Osifo said the NBA was deeply interested in the legislative process and would not support the removal of the financial independence enjoyed by the judiciary and legislature since the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
He warned that reversing the existing framework could return both institutions to a period of financial hardship, mistrust and excessive dependence on the executive arm of government.
The NBA chairman urged the Assembly to withdraw the proposed bills and preserve the autonomy that had enabled the two arms of government to perform their constitutional responsibilities more effectively.
Former Chairman of the NBA Benin Branch, Ede Asenoguan, also opposed the proposed repeal, describing financial autonomy as a constitutional issue essential to institutional independence and democratic development.
Asenoguan questioned why lawmakers would seek to surrender their own financial independence and increase the legislature’s dependence on the executive.
He further alleged that the judiciary received about ₦6 billion through appropriation in the previous year, while its allocation was reduced to approximately ₦300 million in the current year.
According to him, such a reduction could force the judiciary to repeatedly approach the executive for funding, thereby weakening its independence.
The Guardian reported that the protest began after Assembly workers examined the Order Paper and discovered the two bills seeking to repeal the financial autonomy laws.
However, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idaiye, initially said he was unaware of any protest or plan to repeal the laws.
Shortly before plenary commenced at about 4:30 p.m., the Speaker reportedly addressed the protesting workers and clarified that the laws would be amended rather than repealed.
The development has renewed debate over the importance of financial autonomy in protecting the independence of the legislature and judiciary from executive control.
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