The parliamentary staff association of Nigeria (PASAN), Oyo state chapter has joined their counterpart across the country for a nationwide indefinite strike calling for the implementation of financial autonomy for the legislature across the country.
The protesters who barricaded the state house of assembly entrance to prevent free entry and exit, insisted that until their demands were addressed, they would continue to occupy the house of assembly and thwart all legislative businesses
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the chairman parliamentary staff association of Nigeria (PASAN), Oyo state chapter Comrade Yemi Alade argued that to continue to emasculate the legislature would be a threat to democracy and against the doctrine of seperation of power
He insisted that despite the Presidential assent on autonomy for the legislature, and an executive order for the implementation, the Nigeria Governors’ forum had continue to frustrate the move for selfish reasons, while urging Oyo state government to also implement the unified salary structure.
In his response, Speaker of the state house of assembly, Rt Hon Debo Ogundoyin assured the protesters that their agitation was genuine and noble for sustainability of democratic governance
The speaker equally expressed optimism that talks and delibrations were ongoing to address the agitation. His words:
“The only stumbling block is that the Governor’s forum wants to go about the financial autonomy at the same time and same method of implementation. No state will go about it in different ways because that will bring about uniformity and once that arises some states will be at an advantage as compared to some other states.
“The general consensus is that we will use one method for all the states and that will bring about rapid development and independent for the States House of Assembly nationwide.
“The truth about this situation is that now that it has gotten to this point it could have been resolved long before now but its unfortunate that the PASAN from the national level to the state have taken a unilateral decision in order to make the strike indefinite until the financial autonomy is approved. The situation is not unique to Oyo State but across the federation.”
