President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary in accordance with the 4th Alteration to 1999 Constitution.

Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said the committee will drive the actualisation of the autonomy granted to the legislature and judiciary at the state level.

It will be chaired by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, with Mr Ita Enang, Presidential Liaison (NASS), acting as Secretary.

The committee has representatives of state judiciary, such as Mr N. Ajanah, Chief Judge of Kogi State and Mr K. Abiri, Chief Judge of Bayelsa.

Other members are Mr Abdullahi Maikano Usman, Grand Khadi, Gombe State Sharia Court of Appeal, and Mr Abbazih Musa Sadeeq, Ag. President of FCT Customary Court of Appeal.

State legislatures are to be represented by Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as Mr Abel Riah, Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly.

Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria is to be represented by Mr Marwan Mustapha Adamu, while Mr Bala Hadi will represent Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in the committee.

Other members of the committee are Mr Musa Agwai, Body of Chairmen of Houses of Assembly Service Commissions; Mr David Umaru of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters; Mr Aminu Shagari, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Judiciary, Accountant General of the Federation, and Secretary of National Judicial Council.

Director-General of Nigerian Governors Forum or such other representative as the forum may wish to nominate; Chairman of Forum of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria; President of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro, and Mr Chike Adibuah representing Civil Society Organisations are members.

The committee will assess and review the level of compliance by all 36 States of the Federation with Section 121(3) of 1999 Constitution (as amended).

It will monitor, ensure and cause the implementation of Financial Autonomy across the Judiciary and Legislature of the 36 States and to consult and relate with the appropriate Federal and State MDAs.

It is also to ensure and where necessary enforce the implementation of the constitutional provision, and to come up with appropriate modality or model to be adopted by all States of the Federation for implementation and/ or compliance with Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Formal inauguration of the committee by Mr President will be done in due course,’’ Adesina said.

NAN