The Chairman, Kogi State Chapter of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Hon. Abdulmumini Ibrahim has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Fourth Alteration Bill that grants financial autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciaries and State Houses of Assembly into law.
Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja on Saturday, Abdulmumini said the new law will free state lawmakers from the stranglehold of their governors.
He praised the courage exhibited by President Buhari in signing the all-important bill into law.
“President Buhari has shown that he is a forthright leader who is committed to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. The autonomy will herald a paradigm shift in politics and governance across states in the country. State lawmakers will no longer wait for crumbs from the tables of state governors, they are now independent.
“Before now, state assemblies in Nigeria are powerless appendages on their respective state governors. They were so helpless and became mere rubber stamps to the state executive but President Buhari has gifted Nigeria Democracy an immortal dividend and will forever be grateful to him for granting the state assemblies and judiciary financial autonomy,” he said.
With the autonomy, the amounts standing to the credit of the judiciary are to be now be paid directly to the judiciary of those states, no more through the governors and no more from the governors. Also, the amounts standing to the credit of the Houses of Assembly of the respective states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of that state for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the States Houses of Assembly.
The APDA chieftain equally hailed the President on the declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day in Nigeria. He said the decision to honour the presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola, is a great step towards healing old wounds.
Abdulmumini said the President has given patriots and democrats reasons to believe in the Nigerian project with post-humor awards on MKO Abiola, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
“The declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day coupled with the post-humor awards has rekindled our hopes in this great nation. It is a testimony that good will always be rewarded, no matter how long.
“I celebrate with June 12 crusaders, members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) for this great moment. It is a victory for all of them.”
