Governors of the 36 states have technically lost their strangulating control of State Houses of Assembly as well as State judiciaries.
This appears to be part of efforts by the Buhari administration to initiate far reaching changes which would strengthen the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy, and guarantee complete autonomy for legislative houses as well the judicial arm in the States.
The National Assembly which conducted a review of the constitution has since taken a principled position in support of absolute autonomy for state legislatures and the judiciary.
Although state legislatures and the judiciary have been seen as autonomous, their autonomy have been greatly impaired by the extreme control exercised over their funds by State Governors.
All that is about to change.
President Muhammadu Buhari has just signed Executive Order 10 which guarantees the transmission of funds meant for State legislatures and the State judiciaries directly to them.
“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.
“This administration will continue to do everything to strengthen the principles and practice of democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria.”
The Federal Government’s action is expected to alter the scale of balance which has tied both the legislature and the judiciary at the State level to the apron strings of the State executive arm.
Across the nation, the decision to free state legislatures as well as the judicial establishment from the stranglehold of state governors is being hailed by Nigerians who have always wanted to see the doctrine of separation of powers in action.
That doctrine which has formed the basis of democracy universally says the executive, legislature and the judiciary must be independent of one another in order to ensure proper checks and balances in the system.
It is apparent that Nigeria may be turning a new page in its march towards a stable and responsive democracy.