The Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, has raised concerns over the lack of financial and administrative autonomy for state legislatures, contrasting their limited independence with the relative freedom enjoyed by the National Assembly.
Speaking during a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, monitored by DAILY POST, Adeleye lamented the continued reliance of state houses of assembly on the executive arm for funding and information dissemination.
“Unlike the National Assembly, which is constitutionally autonomous and self-funded, most state assemblies are still financially handicapped,” Adeleye stated. “We depend on the information units and finances of the state government. In this way, we are handicapped.”
He noted that although the constitution provides for a State Allocation Committee—chaired by each state’s Commissioner for Finance—to manage the distribution of federal and internally generated revenues among the three arms of government, the executive still appropriates the largest share, thereby weakening legislative independence.
“While the National Assembly has made significant progress, state assemblies are still battling with executive dominance,” he added. “Unless the leadership chooses to be a rubber stamp, the National Assembly operates independently. But at the state level, it’s a different story.”
Despite these challenges, Adeleye commended the Ogun State House of Assembly for its efforts under the leadership of Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, citing strides made in promoting good governance and boosting internally generated revenue through effective legislation.
“Ogun State remains the most industrialised state in Nigeria, and we’re doing our best to support development through sound legislative practices,” he said.
He also highlighted the Assembly’s oversight responsibilities, rating them at 60 per cent. According to him, the legislature carries out quarterly reviews of government ministries, departments, and agencies, with an active Public Accounts Committee serving as an internal anti-corruption mechanism.
Adeleye’s remarks come amid renewed national discussions on the need for full legislative autonomy at the state level to strengthen democracy and ensure true separation of powers.
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