By Victor AhiumaYoung

There are strong indications that members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, may commence a nationwide strike from tomorrow over the non-implementation of the Financial Autonomy Act by the state governors.

The seven day strike notice given to the state governors to fully implement the Financial Autonomy Act signed into law by former President Muhammad Buhari in March 2023, expires tomorrow.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had in March 2023, signed the bills on Financial Autonomy of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary.

The bills were among 35 constitution amendment bills transmitted by the National Assembly in January to the President for assent

PASAN had earlier on September 18, 2023, and October 7, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the governors to fully comply with the Financial Autonomy Act to no avail, prompting it to issue a seven day notice on October 18, 2023.

In a letter of notice written to chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Chairman Forum of Speakers and the Department of State Services, DSS, PASAN lamented the refusal of the governors to implement the Financial Autonomy at the state legislative houses of assemblies as provided in the constitution.

The letter, signed by Acting Secretary General, Agugbue Happiness, expressed disgust over the governors’ failure to meet the union’s demand of financial autonomy to the state assemblies, despite numerous letters to that effect.

The letter read: “We refer to our letters dated 18th September, 2023 and 7th of October, 2023 on 21 days ultimatum to embark on industrial action if financial autonomy is not implemented in the State Houses of Assembly nationwide by Wednesday, October 18, 2023, and hereby inform you that the leadership of our great union has further extended the ultimatum by one week.

“We, therefore, hope that the extension would further avail ample opportunity to meet the demands of the union and avert industrial action.

“We, hereby, reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct the members to embark on the proposed strike if its demands are not yielded to.”

As at Monday October 23, 2023, nothing had been done by the state governors to implement the act.

One of the leaders of PASAN who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “We have got to the point of no return. We have done every necessary thing to avoid another round of strike, but the governors have pushed us to a point of no return.

”Anyway, they still have about 48 hours to do the needful. But if they fail, we will have no option but to declare a nationwide strike from Wednesday (tomorrow.)”

A letter to Abia State governor, dated October 10 by the PASAN President, Mohammed Usman, read among others: “This is to remind you of the series of letters the union had written in the past, which culminated in the notice of 21 days ultimatum issued on Monday, September 18, 2023, to embark on national strike, if financial autonomy is not implemented at the State Legislative Houses as provided in the constitution of the federation.

”Note that the same letter has been written to the governors, speakers and clerks of the 36 states houses of assembly of the federation accordingly.

”We, hereby, reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct the members to embark on the proposed strike action if its demands are not yielded to.”