Parliamentary workers shut Edo Assembly over agitation for financial autonomy

Members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Edo State chapter, on Monday shutdown the House of Assembly complex over agitation for financial autonomy for state legislatures.

According to reports, members of the association barricaded the gates to the assembly complex, thus denying lawmakers access to the facility.

Speaking with newsmen, PASAN Chairman in the state, Umaru Haruna, said that the National President of the association, Mr Mohammed Usman, had directed all chairmen and secretaries to mobilise members for maximum participation in the protest.

Haruna said that PASAN had given a two-day ultimatum to governors of the 36 states of the federation to implement the autonomy in all the houses of assembly across the country before the commencement of the protest.

He noted that the ultimatum was further extended by one week, which ended on Oct. 27.

“The issue of autonomy is a constitutional matter. You know it has been passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“All we need is for government to start implementation. But as we speak today, nothing has been done.

“We are not just fighting for PASAN; we are fighting to deepen democracy for Nigerians,” he said.

According to him, the essence of separation of powers is when autonomy is in operation.