Speakers of the 36 state legislatures at the weekend vowed to pursue their financial autonomy and political independence.
The speakers said their financial independence would strengthen democracy in the country.
Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Alhaji Ismaila Kamba, spoke with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the end of a two-day conference.
The conference was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in conjunction with the Kwara State House of Assembly.
He said they would not make same mistake where few state legislatures opted out of the project.
Kamba, who is the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, said: “We will try to understand where that bill is and if necessary, we’ll refer it to various legislatures for another re-presentation and forward it to Mr. President for assent. And I am very sure that we are not going to make the same mistake the others made. We are going to agree and endorse that legislatures should have their financial autonomy.
“Also, I am very sure that Mr. President, in his wisdom and on his stance on anti-corruption crusade, will oblige and assent the bill into law this time.”
He said the nation’s democracy could only be strengthened and made effective through a vibrant legislature.
Kamba said he would work with President Mohammadu Buhari to fight corruption.
He said his leadership would be committed towards the entrenchment of virtues and values that would make democratic governance more people oriented.
The Conference of Speakers, according him, would equally analyse government policies to ensure their efficacy and effectiveness as well as partner other tiers of government in promoting peace, security and peaceful co-existence, eradicate poverty and give priority to youth and women empowerment initiatives to enhance the well being of Nigerians.
Kamba urged his colleagues to make sacrifice for the desired change. He urged Buhari, the leadership of the National Assembly and governors to be genuinely committed to actualising change.
The speakers resolved to domesticate the Criminal Justice Administration Act 2015 in their various states.
