Edo NLC Vows Resistance as Assembly Moves to Amend Legislative, Judicial Autonomy Law
By Isaac Eranga
BENIN CITY — The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly against proceeding with plans to repeal or amend the Edo State House of Assembly and Judiciary Autonomy Law 2021.
In a statement issued in Benin City, the Chairman of the Edo NLC Caretaker Committee, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, expressed deep concern over the move by the newly installed Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, and the House leadership to alter the legislation.
Describing the proposed amendments as “unpopular, inconceivable, and anti-constitution,” the NLC cautioned that tampering with the law represents a direct threat to the financial and administrative independence of both the legislative and judicial arms of government in the state.
Rising Tension at the Assembly
The labor union’s intervention follows growing unrest within the state capital. Tensions escalated at the Assembly complex as members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) staged protests against the reported plans to rollback financial autonomy provisions. Workers expressed fears that altering the law could lead to wage reductions and job losses.
Addressing the situation, Speaker Yekini Idiaye—who recently assumed office—clarified that the lawmakers were considering amendments to the law rather than a complete repeal. However, the proposed changes continue to draw significant opposition from legislative workers and civil society groups.
Threat of Mass Resistance
In its statement, the Edo NLC declared full solidarity with PASAN workers and warned that it is ready to mobilize critical stakeholders across the state to block any legislative action that weakens institutional independence.
”Any subterfuge attempts to undermine the autonomy of the legislature and judiciary in the State, and by extension, our present democracy, would be repressed by the collective will of the people,” the NLC stated.
The NLC emphasized that executive control over the funding and administration of the legislature and judiciary violates the principle of separation of powers, warning that compromising financial autonomy would jeopardize political and judicial impartiality across Edo State.
