What lawyers say on financial autonomy for state judiciary, legislature

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the Constitution Fourth Alteration Bill, which grants financial autonomy to the State Houses of Assembly and the States’ Judiciary.
With the signing into law, the Constitution Alteration Bill, the State Houses of Assembly budgetary allocation will now be automatically transferred directly into their account KEHINDE OSASONA seeks legal practitioners’ reactions over the development

Independence of each arms now complete – Barr Okechukwu Ezechigbo There are three arms of government in Nigeria and you will find out that there is what we call separation of powers such that the three arms are independent of each other.
Now granting financial autonomy is something that ought to have been done abinitio.
As a lawyer, I think that the independence of each arm is now complete because they don’t have to take the financial autonomy from them and still hold it; it means that the executive is going to be somewhat superior if it is still holding other arms finances when they are equal in the real sense of it and should be checkmating each other.

It will make judiciary, legislative arms stand firmly – Ike Nwauzoigwe Ike The signing of the bill by the President for the judicial arm and houses of assembly to have a separate purse will enable it perform optimally, especially in dispensing justice without hindrances.
We use to say that the judiciary is the only arm of government that does not have the arm, the sword or anything, so with the financial autonomy; I think it would help in the planning and in the administration of justice for the common man.
As for the houses of assembly, previously, I used to think that most houses of assemblies are just rubber stamp for the executive.
But now with the autonomy, I think they would stand more firmly.
I hope the law also provides for checks and balancing because sometimes when you have so much money, you may become an abuser of powers.
More importantly, running legislative business will become easier.
Time to do things without fear or favour is now – Chidebere Nwachukwu There is a misconception in the whole thing.
First of all, and I think the perception must be corrected.
The credit must go to the National Assembly and the state houses of assembly, however, the President Muhammadu Buhari has done well by signing it.
Also, now that autonomy to be able to do things without fear or favour has been conferred on the legislature and the judiciary by this singular act, their money and constitutionally allowed budget from now on won’t flow from the executive purse, but directly into their own account.
I think this gives more independence for the judiciary and the legislative arm.
However, the processes of appointment still need to be looked into because it still has an anchorage on the part of the executive in term of independence.
But in all, it is a welcome development and there is need to do more in order to ensure total independence.

Good, capable of enhancing absolute independence – Bunmi David Aimola Going by the financial autonomy given to the judiciary in various states, one would say that it is a good development bearing in mind the fact that hitherto the state governors have been the one dictating the pace on how judiciary issues are to be handled in their various states, especially when they have interest in a particular matter.
With this signing now, absolute independence would be guaranteed in our state judiciary and judges in such states would be bold enough to dispense justice without fear or favour as it has always been.
Again, it would be difficult for any state governor to now begin to influence the judiciary unnecessarily.
Before now, we have had a situation where the state houses of assembly were turned to a mere rubberstamp of their various state governors.
We have had a situation where all manners of un-impactful bills have been passed in many states just because the legislators do not want to offend the ‘Emperor’- the governors.
Now, with the financial independence, the needed political strength and courage to act justly has been conferred on our state legislators.
Not only that, now is time to also hold them accountable whenever they erred.
So, we are moving forward.

Buhari has done the right thing – Ramot Usman It is a very good development, President Buhari has done the right thing.
A lot of time when you have to depend on other aspects of the arm of government for your financial needs or anything, you are more or less compromising; you are not free to do whatever you wish.
But, with this leverage for the judiciary and the legislative to stand on their own, justice will be speedy and everyone will be on its own operating independently.
The era of getting approval from the executive has gone.
As for the houses of assembly, this is more like having a freedom to carry out its legislative business.
Now, there is great level of respect and autonomy.

It is long overdue – Tereboh Sanami It is welcome news not only for the judiciary arm but also the legislative arm; even though it is long overdue.
This new move for me is not political and must be commended.
Some level of leeway and financial autonomy has been granted by this singular decision and Nigeria will be better for it.
The governors have pocketed the legislators in their states all these while because they were the one funding them financially.
Now that there is autonomy, they can do things in their own way and in line with the peoples’ interest.
Not only that, at least there could be some level of sanity in the polity because the governors are becoming too powerful and, the ordinary Nigerians are the ones that are been affected.
We are waiting for the implementation.

I can’t wait for its implementation – Dapo Otitoju I am so glad that what we have been fighting for over the years is becoming a reality.
We have always been hearing of the independence of the judiciary in the constitution, in our statements, but we have not witnessed it in term of finance.
Today, we are glad because the President has come to perfect the age-long awaited news.
With this move, the ability to address issues financially would be easier.
I pray that it is implemented to the letter.

There must be political will to implement it – Maxwell Okpara The signing into law the bill is one of the major achievements of the Buhari administration, I must say.
As it were, it is not enough to grant a financial autonomy, it’s for government to have the political will to do the work.
The judiciary must be seen to be independent by all standards.
I felt very bad when I saw the CJN going to pay courtesy visit to the President.
It should not be so.
As the head of the judiciary, the Chief Registrar who is the head of the administration should be sent on such errand.
We are supposed to live the life of a monk; you do not have to socialise so much or go to gatherings because of the nature of our job.
But today, what do we have? So, financial autonomy being granted would go a long way in ensuring a financial independence.
As for the houses of assembly, the desired result may not be achieved because of the existing relationships between them.

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