Governors approve template to implement financial autonomy of judiciary, legislature

15 Jul Governors approve template to implement financial autonomy of judiciary, legislature

Governors of the 36 states of the federation on the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have approved a common template for the implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASUN) on the implementation of financial autonomy for the State legislature and judiciary.

In a communique issued at the end of the Forum’s meeting and signed by NGF’s Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Forum said the template was developed following a meeting of the State Attorneys General and Commissioners of Finance which held on the 25th of June 2021 at the directive of the Forum.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had in May 2020, signed into law an Executive Order 10 to grant financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the country.

The order also mandates the accountant-general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

* On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Forum is in full support of the unbundling and commercialization of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) but concerned with the proposed ownership structure of the NNPC which places ownership on the Federal Government.

The NGF recommended that given that the corporation is owned  by the three tiers of government, the new incorporated entity (NNPC Limited) should be owned by a  vehicle that holds the interest of the three tiers of government – for now, the institution that is positioned to carry out this mandate is the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

“This amendment as well as the proposed 3% share of oil revenue to host communities and 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins will be responded to by relevant channels including the National Assembly  and the National Economic Council (NEC).

* On the Nigerian Postal Service Bill, 2021 and Stamp Duties Collection, the Forum expressed concern with certain proposed amendments to the Principal Stamp Duties Act by  the Nigerian Senate which seeks to remove the powers to administer and collect stamp duties from the relevant tax authorities (Federal Inland Revenue Service or State Internal Revenue Service, depending  on the nature of the transaction) to the Nigeria Postal Service.

* On the Sale of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Assets, the NGF said it  will take a position on the planned privatization of assets of the Niger Delta Power Holding  Company (NDPHC) which were listed by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) without due consultation