JUSUN Strike: NBA Directs Branch Chairmen To Visit Their Respective Governors To Request Implementation Of Judicial Autonomy

*NBA Says Meeting Between JUSUN And Governors Forum Slated
For April 14 Did Not Hold
*Says It Appears Most Of The State Governments Are Not Willing To
Implement The Constitutional Provisions Which Grant Financial
Autonomy To The Judiciary.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Olumide
Akpata, has directed branches of the Association across the States
of the Federation to visit their respective State Governors and
demand for compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution
on Financial Autonomy for State Judiciary.

In a statement made available to Nairalaw, Akpata said
the directive is sequel to failure of Governors to attend the
meeting that Nigerian Governors’ Forum had earlier scheduled with
JUSUN, NBA, which was supposed to hold on the 14th April, 2021.

Akpata said the NBA stands in support of JUSUN in their struggle
for Financial Autonomy for the Judiciary across the country.

Akpata added that after due consultations with several
stakeholders, the Bar has come to the inevitable conclusion that
the NBA must take more decisive steps on the issue.

Read Full Statement Below

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, we are now in the second week of the
nationwide strike action and total shutdown of the Nigerian courts
by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (“JUSUN”) which was
embarked upon to press home the long-standing demand for financial
autonomy of the Nigerian Judiciary. This demand for financial
autonomy is legitimate, constitutional and is in the best interest
of the Judiciary as it is one of the key parameters for enthroning
independence of the Judiciary and fostering democracy.

Prior to the commencement of the strike action, the Nigerian
Bar Association (“NBA”) while supporting the
objective of the industrial action, had taken a position that the
timing of the strike action would work hardship on legal
practitioners, and everyone involved in the justice administration
process. As a result, the NBA has since then been in touch with
JUSUN and other critical stakeholders to discuss the strike action
and various strategies for resolving same in the interest of
everyone concerned. For instance, in a bid to resolve the issue,
the National Officers of the NBA had a meeting with the National
Officers of JUSUN on Thursday, 8th April 2021 to properly
strategize and synergize the age-long partnership of both bodies on
the critical issue of achieving financial autonomy for the Nigerian
Judiciary.

Furthermore, on 12th April 2021, the NBA leadership was in a
larger meeting, comprising the leadership of JUSUN, Federal
Government officials including the representatives of the
Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of
Police, the Presidential Committee on Financial Autonomy for the
Judiciary, the Body of Chief Judges of States, the National
Judicial Council (NJC) and the Hon. Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris
Ngige. After extensive deliberations, the meeting was further
adjourned to Thursday, 15th April 2021. Unfortunately, the said
meeting was called off at the last minute and adjourned sine
die.

It is also important to note that an earlier meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, 14th April 2021 with the Nigerian
Governors Forum did not hold as there was no feedback from the
Nigerian Governors Forum, the most critical stakeholder on this
issue.

With these developments and the recent actions and
utterances of officials of some of the State Governments, it has
become apparent that most of the State Governments are not ready or
willing to implement the constitutional provisions which grant
financial autonomy to the Judiciary.

After due consultations with several stakeholders, we have
come to the inevitable conclusion that the NBA must take more
decisive steps at this troubling moment. We must, as a body, act in
consonance with the aims and objects of our Constitution, by
effectively playing our role in the defence of the independence of
the Judiciary which this fight for financial autonomy seeks to
achieve.

In view of the above, the Chairmen of all the branches of
the NBA are hereby requested to effectively mobilize their members
and pay visits to their respective State Governors at the
Government Houses on Monday, 19th April 2021 to press home the
demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
At the visit, NBA Branches in each State are to present a joint
written demand to their State Governor requesting full
compliance
with existing legislative instruments and court judgments on
the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

The Chairmen of the NBA Branches are further requested to
ensure that these visits are embarked upon, every subsequent
Monday, until there is full compliance with this demand that is
aimed at strengthening our democracy and the dispensation of
justice. We trust that our members will give the leadership of
their respective branches all the support that they require to
achieve this much-needed victory for our justice system.

*NBA Says Meeting Between JUSUN And Governors Forum Slated
For April 14 Did Not Hold
*Says It Appears Most Of The State Governments Are Not Willing To
Implement The Constitutional Provisions Which Grant Financial
Autonomy To The Judiciary.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Olumide
Akpata, has directed branches of the Association across the States
of the Federation to visit their respective State Governors and
demand for compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution
on Financial Autonomy for State Judiciary.

In a statement made available to Nairalaw, Akpata said
the directive is sequel to failure of Governors to attend the
meeting that Nigerian Governors’ Forum had earlier scheduled with
JUSUN, NBA, which was supposed to hold on the 14th April, 2021.

Akpata said the NBA stands in support of JUSUN in their struggle
for Financial Autonomy for the Judiciary across the country.

Akpata added that after due consultations with several
stakeholders, the Bar has come to the inevitable conclusion that
the NBA must take more decisive steps on the issue.

Read Full Statement Below

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, we are now in the second week of the
nationwide strike action and total shutdown of the Nigerian courts
by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (“JUSUN”) which was
embarked upon to press home the long-standing demand for financial
autonomy of the Nigerian Judiciary. This demand for financial
autonomy is legitimate, constitutional and is in the best interest
of the Judiciary as it is one of the key parameters for enthroning
independence of the Judiciary and fostering democracy.

Prior to the commencement of the strike action, the Nigerian
Bar Association (“NBA”) while supporting the
objective of the industrial action, had taken a position that the
timing of the strike action would work hardship on legal
practitioners, and everyone involved in the justice administration
process. As a result, the NBA has since then been in touch with
JUSUN and other critical stakeholders to discuss the strike action
and various strategies for resolving same in the interest of
everyone concerned. For instance, in a bid to resolve the issue,
the National Officers of the NBA had a meeting with the National
Officers of JUSUN on Thursday, 8th April 2021 to properly
strategize and synergize the age-long partnership of both bodies on
the critical issue of achieving financial autonomy for the Nigerian
Judiciary.

Furthermore, on 12th April 2021, the NBA leadership was in a
larger meeting, comprising the leadership of JUSUN, Federal
Government officials including the representatives of the
Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of
Police, the Presidential Committee on Financial Autonomy for the
Judiciary, the Body of Chief Judges of States, the National
Judicial Council (NJC) and the Hon. Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris
Ngige. After extensive deliberations, the meeting was further
adjourned to Thursday, 15th April 2021. Unfortunately, the said
meeting was called off at the last minute and adjourned sine
die.

It is also important to note that an earlier meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, 14th April 2021 with the Nigerian
Governors Forum did not hold as there was no feedback from the
Nigerian Governors Forum, the most critical stakeholder on this
issue.

With these developments and the recent actions and
utterances of officials of some of the State Governments, it has
become apparent that most of the State Governments are not ready or
willing to implement the constitutional provisions which grant
financial autonomy to the Judiciary.

After due consultations with several stakeholders, we have
come to the inevitable conclusion that the NBA must take more
decisive steps at this troubling moment. We must, as a body, act in
consonance with the aims and objects of our Constitution, by
effectively playing our role in the defence of the independence of
the Judiciary which this fight for financial autonomy seeks to
achieve.

In view of the above, the Chairmen of all the branches of
the NBA are hereby requested to effectively mobilize their members
and pay visits to their respective State Governors at the
Government Houses on Monday, 19th April 2021 to press home the
demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
At the visit, NBA Branches in each State are to present a joint
written demand to their State Governor requesting full
compliance
with existing legislative instruments and court judgments on
the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

The Chairmen of the NBA Branches are further requested to
ensure that these visits are embarked upon, every subsequent
Monday, until there is full compliance with this demand that is
aimed at strengthening our democracy and the dispensation of
justice. We trust that our members will give the leadership of
their respective branches all the support that they require to
achieve this much-needed victory for our justice system.