President Muhammadu Buhari has made the legislative and judicial arms of government financially autonomous in states across the federation.
In making the declaration, he stated:
“Based on the power vested in me under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), I, today, signed into law Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary,” the president shared in a tweet.
“This administration will continue to do everything to strengthen the principles and practice of democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria.”
The executive order ensures that the legislative and judicial levels of government across the 36 states will no longer be tied to the apron strings of powerful governors; and will obtain their financial allocations directly from the centre.
State judges may no longer be under pressure to hand over favorable rulings on state matters to sitting governors or their ministries.
The step would also ensure the division of powers in most states; and offer some measure of legitimacy, respectability and freedom to the other arms of government.
In June 2019, President Buhari also moved to offer financial autonomy to local governments, the federation’s weakest level of governance.
