Legislative, Judiciary Autonomy Will Strengthen Good Governance — Ebonyi Govt

The Ebonyi Government says that the law on legislative and judiciary autonomy recently passed by the Ebonyi House of Assembly will strengthen the workings of government.

The bill has been assented to by Gov. Dave Umahi.

Mr Uchenna Orji, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, stated this on Wednesday in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly State Executive Council meeting, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

He noted that the autonomy of the three arms of government would deepen good governance, strengthen democracy and enhance the workings of the government.

He noted that the law tagged Ebonyi Legislature Funds Management Law 009 of 2021, is an Executive Bill that was conceptualised by the Executive Council and sent to the House of Assembly for legislation.

“The needful was done and the bill passed through first, second and third readings, including a public hearing before its passage and signing into law by the governor.

“The law was presented today to the Executive Council for us to appreciate the development that we have had in that regard,” Orji said.

He further noted that the law on judiciary autonomy called the State Judiciary Funds Management Law 010 of 2021 was also presented to the Executive Council to appreciate.

“The enactment of the two laws are in keeping with the yearnings of the people that the legislature and judiciary as arms of government should have autonomy in terms of funding.

“Ebonyi is about the first state in the federation to have done that and we did applaud the governor for taking the bold steps in keying into this.

“It is a national issue and let me say that by virtue of this, we have really tightened the principle of separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government,” he said.

He explained that with the new law in place, both the legislature and judiciary would have the latitude and leverage to perform their duties without any executive hindrance.

“Once the law is made, it is for the present and the future and we do believe that with the law in place, there won’t be any altercation among the three arms of government,” Orji added.