JUSUN Protests at Edo Assembly Over Financial Autonomy

On Monday, the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) escalated the crisis over financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature in Edo State by shutting the gates of the Edo State House of Assembly. They warned lawmakers against tampering with existing autonomy laws, insisting that proposed legislation must be withdrawn.

This protest followed the Majority Leader of the Assembly sponsoring two bills aimed at repealing the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law, 2023, and the Edo State House of Assembly Funds Management Law, 2023. Speaker Idaiye Yekini clarified that the term "repeal" was an error and that the intention was to amend the laws.

However, JUSUN Chairman Comrade Orien Charles expressed skepticism, arguing that any amendment could still threaten the financial independence secured after a decade of struggle. Charles stated that the union would resist any attempts to reverse their gains and urged the Assembly leadership to abandon the proposed legislation entirely, warning that their next steps would depend on the outcome of discussions with the Speaker.