Updated: Edo Assembly Crisis: Okpebholo Signs Controversial Financial Bills Into Law As JUSUN Shuts Assembly Gate, Demands Reversal

by Idahosa Moses | Benin

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Monday signed into law the Edo House of Assembly Funds Management Bill 2023 and the State Judiciary Financial Autonomy 2023 Amendment Bill, amid growing opposition from workers under the aegis of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The development came on the same day JUSUN members in the state protested against the legislation by blocking the entrance to the Edo State House of Assembly complex in Benin, demanding that the planned alteration to the financial autonomy of the legislature and judiciary be stopped.

However, signing the controversial bills at Government House, Benin, Okpebholo said the legislation was necessary to prevent what he described as abuse of capital funds and to ensure that government resources were channelled towards projects that directly benefit the people.

The governor, who received the Speaker of the Assembly, Prince Yekini Idiaye, during the signing ceremony, commended the lawmakers for the swift passage of the bills, saying he was pleased that the issue had been resolved.

“I am indeed delighted because this has become like a controversial law, I must confess to you,” Okpebholo said.

He maintained that the three arms of government, the executive, legislature and judiciary, had distinct constitutional responsibilities and should not interfere in one another’s functions.

According to him, while the executive is responsible for administration and implementation, the legislature makes laws and performs oversight functions, while the judiciary interprets laws and punishes offenders.

“For me, deviating from these is totally out of the field of play, changing the goal post. I saw danger in it and the way things were going,” the governor said.

Okpebholo expressed concern that funds earmarked for capital projects were no longer getting to the people, stressing that such projects remained the most visible means through which government could improve the lives of citizens.

He therefore commended the lawmakers for what he described as standing with the people, saying their action demonstrated commitment to the development of the state.

Explaining the rationale behind the amendment, Idiaye said the new legislation did not abolish the financial autonomy of either the House of Assembly or the judiciary, insisting that recurrent expenditure would continue to go directly to the two arms of government.

“It is the capital part of the funds that has issues. It was badly abused,” the Speaker said.

Idiaye explained that the governor’s position was aimed at preventing further abuse of capital funds by ensuring that the executive manages the capital component through the appropriation process.

He said the Assembly and judiciary would submit proposals to the executive for approval before accessing funds meant for capital projects.

“The autonomy is still in place, there is no fear on any side, and the unions should not have any fear,” Idiaye said.

He further assured workers in both institutions that their salaries and recurrent expenditure were not affected by the amendment, suggesting that the ongoing JUSUN protest may have been triggered by inadequate information about the content of the legislation.

“I believe they have not been properly briefed, but the autonomy is still in order and the workers’ salaries are not touched,” he said.

The signing of the bills, however, sets the stage for further engagement between the state government and the unions, following JUSUN’s action on Monday, as the union seeks clarification and safeguards for the financial independence of the judiciary and legislature.