Former Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun, has blamed military governments for disrespect being suffered by the legislative arm under the present civilian dispensation.
Olatunbosun who spoke newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, on Saturday stated that the fact that the military was allowed to make laws for the judiciary to interpret during military usurpation in the country, rather than allowing a special body to perform the task damaged the respect for the legislative arm.
He also declared that the state Houses of Assemblies can only overcome being subservient to the executive arm through financial independence.
Olatunbosun, who is now the Chairman Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, said no legislator can be bold enough to confront any unruly governor with the present structure, where governors pay the salaries and emoluments of lawmakers.
The former legislator applauded the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi , for giving the state assembly resonable financial Independence, saying this will give room for constructive engagements between the executive and legislature for optimum performance.
“During the Military Regimes in Nigeria, the Judiciary was operating by interpreting laws, but the supreme Military Council headed by a Head of State played the roles of executive and legislature.
“There was no assembly to make laws and that was the beginning of the erosion of respect for that arm”, he said.
Defending legislative autonomy further Olatunbosun said: “The judiciary is enjoying its funding from consolidated account, so why can’t the legislature enjoys same as chambers for the representatives of the people?.
“Based on my experiences as a former Deputy Speaker and now administrator in the assembly, the two arms cannot be totally separated from each other, because they represent one government with one development agenda.
“But what the agitators are saying is a reasonable level of financial autonomy that will give them leverage over encumbrances Government is one and all over the world, the executive remains the head of any government, but the act of lawnaking cannot be toyed with, because that is where good governance starts from. Good laws will automatically translate to good governance.
“Autonomy should not be misinterpreted. It is just a way of making each arm of government responsible and productive for the delivery of democracy dividends”.
