…as bill for autonomy law scales second reading
The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday gave a bill for a law to grant financial autonomy to the State Assembly its second reading on the floor of the House.
Leading the debate on the second reading of the bill, the majority leader, Hon.Charity Aiguobarueghian, said that the bill was a constitutional injunction that must be complied with in line with section 121 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking further, the majority leader said that as a direct fallout of the recent strike embarked upon by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), a timeline was set to ensure the passage of the bill.
The majority leader thereafter solicited the support of his colleagues for the passage of the bill.
Lawmakers who spoke in support of the bill said that it would give the House the needed freedom to check the executive and judicial arms of government where necessary.
On his part, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, said the autonomy was not meant to set the house against the executive arm of government as the two arms would continue to work in the interest of the public.
The speaker thereafter directed that an ad-hoc committee to be headed by the Chief Whip and member representing Akoko-Edo 1 constituency, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, be constituted.
The members of the committee include the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Maria Edeko, PDP member representing Esan North-East 2 constituency, PDP member representing Esan South East constituency, Hon.Sunny Ojezele, and APC member representing Esan West, Hon Ibhamanu Aigbokhan.
The others are PDP member representing Akoko-Edo 2 constituency, Hon. Donald Okogbe, APC member representing Etsako East, Hon. Kingsley Ugabi, and APC member representing Esan North East 1 constituency, Hon. Addeh Isibor.
