The Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF will meet tomorrow, Wednesday to discuss the issue of financial autonomy for the states’ judiciary and legislature, code-named the Executive Order 10, 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last Friday, signed into law, an Executive Order, which granted financial autonomy to the legislative and the judicial arms across the 36 states of the Federation.

Meanwhile a statement issued by Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Tuesday in Abuja said that the consultation would be the 9th in the series of teleconference meeting held by the governors since the lockdown, occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The order also mandated the Accountant-General of the Federation to deduct from source, amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state from any one that refuses to grant such autonomy.

Bello-Barkindo said the meeting, which will take place at 2pm, will have in attendance, all the 36 states governors, via Microsoft Team from their various states.

“Among the issues to be reviewed are a number of critical national questions that revolve around the financial autonomy for the states’ judiciary and legislature code-named the Executive Order 10, 2020.

 “The governors will also touch issues around the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG ownership, the controversial National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Bill.

“Also to be discussed is the restructuring of states’ loans and the Federation Account Allocation Committee FAAC deductions, which have been a recurring decimal on the governors’ table.

“As usual the governors will be given an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, as well as review a letter from the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 as it relates to the pandemic draft regulations,” he said.

The NGF-image maker also disclosed that there would be a general update on the efforts of the Coalition Against COVID-19.

It would be recalled that Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria had commended President Buhari for signing the Executive Order, saying that this will ultimately bring about the autonomy of the state legislature and judiciary as enshrined in section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Chairman, of the group, who doubles as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said the body was excited over the president’s order, adding that it was a Sallah gift to the legislators.

Obasa had told THISDAY Newspaper that no doubt, the order will further make state legislatures independent of the executive arm of their various governments.

“It would also boost healthy competitions among state legislatures in pursuit of advancements and developments.

“This is the best gift the President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, has given the legislative arm of state governments at this Sallah. And coming at the end of the Ramadan, it means God truly answered the prayers of the members of state legislatures through the president.”

The speakers also described it as an impetus to boost legislative performance and service delivery by state legislatures.