Akwa Ibom Speaker cautions against legislative rascality over financial autonomy

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan  Bassey, has issued a strong caution to his colleagues in the country, over the financial autonomy granted the legislature by Mr President.

The Speaker warned that the legislature must not see the autonomy as an avenue for legislative rascality, rather, he said it should be taken as a means for more co-operation of powers amongst the tripod in the realm of governance.

This caution was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press secretary, Mr Emmanuel Effiong and made available to newsmen in Uyo.

According to him, “the signing of the Executive Order No 10 by President Muhammadu Buhari, granting financial autonomy to the legislative and judicial arms of government across the country is a panacea towards the smooth conduct of government businesses within the three arms government.”

In the Speaker’s advice which was in reaction to the President’s Order, further warned that the autonomy does not call for ego tripping.

His words: “The financial autonomy granted to the two arms of government does not call for ego-tripping nor is it for muscle flexing with the executive arm of government. It is meant for co-operation of power amongst the tripod.

“It is also meant to re-position governance in the three arms of government where each arm works assiduously in changing the social, political and economic narratives of our people,” he said.

Bassey commended the President for taking the bold initiative to strengthen the apparatus of government throughout the country, noting that, the three arms of government must as a matter of necessity, continue to co-operate and collaborate with one another towards effective service delivery to the overall benefit of the people of Nigeria.

He observed that, there was urgent need for all the three arms of government to continue to synergise in a bid to address the numerous socio/economic challenges facing the people.

Meanwhile, the Speaker, has commended the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for the efficient and proactive manner he had carried along other arms of government by ensuring quick and timely release of their budgetary allocations even before the President signed the Executive Order No10 last Friday.

He disclosed that, the governor had always released timely all votes meant for the legislative and judicial arms of government as at when due.

He however, called on the other 35 state governors to continue to see the other two arms of government as partners in progress in the task of making lives more comfortable for the citizenry