SOKOTO: Tambuwal Signs Legislative, Judiciary Independence Bill Into Law

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has on Wednesday assented two bills of Legislative Forum Management and Other Matters and that of Judiciary Fund Management and Other  Matters into laws.

 

Speaking at the ceremony which was held at the Council Chamber of Government House, Sokoto, Gov. Tambuwal recollects the public debates and discourse that has been trailing the issue of autonomy for the legislature and judiciary at the state level all over the country.

 

He said much of the exchanges have been laced with a wild, unsubstantiated claim and allegations levelled against state governors  that they do not want the autonomy of the judiciary and legislature.

 

Tambuwal, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said in his position as one of the state governors and in his capacity as one of the leaders of the NGF, they all agree that the other two arms of government should have their autonomy.

 

According to him, despite their being labelled as “suspects and culprits” in the series of castigation against them, “no  governor in Nigeria is against the autonomy of the Legislature and the Judiciary.”

 

“We all believe in building democratic institutions,” he noted, pointing out that the rigmarole over the issue should have concentrated on the constitutionality or otherwise of Order 10 which President Buhari was inadvertently ill-advised to sign.

 

Recalling his time as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal said when the National  Assembly back then passed the Constitutional Amendment bill that engendered the autonomy of the Federal Judiciary, no Order was signed by the President.

 

He explained that the President doesn’t sign any Executive Orders for the operationalization of Constitutional provisions because the Constitution is self enforcing. “Why then,” he wondered, “should anybody believe that there has to be an  Executive Order for Governors to obey the grundnorm of the country.”

 

The governor maintained that the NGF and individual Governors have been working with the Judiciary and Legislature, assuring that in Sokoto state the tempo will be sustained for the sustenance of its development.

 

In his address, the Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly (SOHA), Aminu Muhammad Achida thanked the governor for his support and cooperation to the Legislature and Judiciary in the state.

 

He assured the executive arm of the Assembly’s continuous support and cooperation in order to move the state forward.

 

 

 

Meanwhile,as muslim faithful anticipate the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir festival later in the month, Sokoto state government has directed that the payment of July salary should be effected by 15th of the month.

 

The state Commissioner of Finance, Abdussamad Dasuki stated  this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting held at the Council Chamber of Government House Sokoto on Wednesday.

 

He said the gesture was to enable civil servants in the state to celebrate the occasion with ease.

 

Abdussamad also added that the council has approved the rebuilding of a three storey

e-revenue edifice that will house two banks, along Sultan Dasuki road at the cost of over N1.1 billion.

 

Similarly, the council also approved the sum of over N509 million for the supply of anti-malaria drugs to the malaria elimination agency in the state in order to facilitate its activities of fighting malaria in the state.

 

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Ali Inname, told journalists that the contract for the procurement of the anti-malaria drugs was awarded to Emzor Phamaceutical company.

 

He also explained that over N277 million has been approved as consultancy services fee for the company that will design, plan and prepare the integral  document for the supply and installation of medical  equipment and furnitures for the ongoing Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital (SOSUTH), which construction has reached an advanced stage.

 

Dr Inname also gave an update on the COVID-19 pandemic which he said no positive case has been reported in the state for the past 123 days, just as 775 cases have been confirmed while 7,440 person were tested throughout.

 

Also the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Aminu Bala Bodinga, explained that the council has approved the variation claim of the company handling the dualisation of intra-city Waziri Abbas Road at the cost of over N172 million.

 

He said the variation was a result of the inflation rate of goods and materials.