The branch of Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch, has joined members of the Edo State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to protest alleged plans by lawmakers to stop financial autonomy for both the legislature and the judiciary.

Chairman of the branch, Idemudia Osifo, described the plan to repeal financial autonomy laws as embarrassing.

He said: “There is panic in the public. The NBA is interested in the outcome of this process that is about to be initiated by the House of Assembly and we do not support the withdrawal of the autonomy enjoyed by these two institutions. Both the judiciary and the legislature have been enjoying it from the time of former Governor Obaseki.

“The implications are obvious. We are going back to the time of hardship, a time of mistrust. We are witnesses as to the benefit the autonomy has afforded these two institutions and we want to sustain it.

“We heard a new Speaker came into the office yesterday and the first thing he planned to do was to remove autonomy from these two institutions. It is embarassing. We hoped they would withdraw the bill.”

Also speaking, former Chairman of NBA Benin Branch, Ede Asenoguan, said the financial autonomy law was a constitutional matter.

Asenoguan said it was strange to see Edo lawmakers removing autonomy from themselves.

He said, “The law made provisions for each of them to have financial autonomy. Two years ago, the Assembly passed a law granting autonomy to the other arms of the government. The plan to remove autonomy is not in the interest of the state, it is not interest of development.

“Last year, the judiciary was given about N6bn by way of appropriation but this year, it was slashed to N300m which is far less. The judiciary is expected to go to the Executive for money all the time. Stakeholders have a say on whether it should be done.”

Contacted for comments, Speaker of the Edo Assembly, Yekini Idaiye, said the lawmakers have been in an Executive Session, saying he was not aware that workers have locked the door.

Idaiye said he was not aware of any protest or plan to repeal the bill granting autonomy to the Assembly.

Meanwhile, shortly before the lawmakers began plenary at about 4:30pm, the Speaker informed the agitated workers that the laws were to be amended and not to be repealed.

Recall that PASAN members had Earler took over the hallowed chamber of the Edo State House of Assembly for several hours.

They said they learnt about the plot when the House Order paper was shared.

Checks on the Order Paper showed two items read, “A bill to repeal the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023 and a bill to repeal the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law, 2023.”

It was gathered that the workers mobilised and stormed the Chamber to prevent the lawmakers from sitting.