President Buhari Signs Order to Implement Financial Autonomy For States’ Legislature, Judiciary

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday signed an Executive Order for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary.

Buhari, who disclosed this on his Twitter page, said his administration would continue to do everything to strengthen the principles and practice of democracy in Nigeria.

“Based on the power vested in me under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), I, today, signed into law Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary.”

Going by the provision of the new Executive Order, in the event of the failure of any state government to release allocations meant for its state legislature or judiciary, the Accountant-General of the Federation will have the power to deduct from source the allocations due to such states in the Federation Accounts, and pay the funds directly to such state legislatures and judiciaries.

Already, the federal legislature and judiciary are enjoying financial autonomy in line with constitutional provisions which have made it possible for them to receive their allocations from source.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who also confirmed the development in a statement, said the implementation of financial autonomy of the State Legislature and State Judiciary would strengthen the institutions at the state tier of government and make them more independent and accountable in line with the tenets of democracy as enshrined by the 1999 Constitution.

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