By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The Director General, National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and former Minister of National Planning, Prof Abubakar Olarenwaju Sulaiman, has called on state Governors to allow unfettered autonomy for State Assembly Service Commission (SASC), saying this is the only opportunity that guaranteed a participatory democracy.

Prof Sulaiman handed down the advice at a five-day 8th National Conference organised by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) in conjunction with the SASC holding in Kaduna.

He said Nigeria's democracy had gone beyond its nascency, as the only way to demonstrate the current democratic feat is not only administrative autonomy, but also holistic and financial independence to states commission.

The former Minister urged State Governments to take a cue from the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) whose administrative and financial autonomy had become a reference point to other democracies.

He said NILDS will not hesitate in its continuous clamour for both legislative and the state commission’s autonomy, as that is the beauty of democracy in both developed and developing countries.

The Political Scientist said the theme of this year’s National Conference was part of the resolve of the current Commission under the leadership of Mr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi to ensure both the establishment of State Assembly Service Commissions and to function with its full autonomy.

He commended the NASC for the giant strides, saying the response of State Governments will be the bane of Nigeria democratic adventure and its successes.