Strike: Lagos Appeals To Judiciary Staff To Resume Work

Lagos State government has urged the striking members of the
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to resume and open the
gates of the courts to litigants.

The appeal was made on Thursday at a meeting the executives of
JUSUN in the state held with representatives of the government.

The state government, during the meeting, averred that there was
no need for the strike as the judiciary is already enjoying full
financial autonomy in accordance with the provisions of the
constitution, the various court judgment, and Executive Order
10.

The meeting was presided by the Chief Judge of the state,
Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Others at the meeting included the Attorney General, Moyosore
Onigbanjo SAN, the Head of Service among others.

Recall that JUSUN had presented a table of demand which
included: “Full Implementation of Financial Autonomy as supported
in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (As
Amended), Eight of Staff busses, allowances for the members of
Staff which should be gazetted in the payslip, special duty
allowances, robe allowance for the legal registrar, incidental
allowance for the Sheriff and wardrobe allowance for other
cadres.

A report of the meeting made available to newsmen by the state
Assistant Secretary JUSUN, Adesanya Dare David stated that Justice
Alogba who presided over the meeting stated that” Lagos State
Judiciary has been enjoying the total compliance of Financial
Autonomy on Recurrent Expenditures at 100 per cent from the State
and on Capital Expenditure, he also stated that Lagos State
Government has also been compliance 75 per cent.”

The Chief judge stated further that “though it could be better
they are very satisfied with the Lagos State Government and the
strike action is not needed in Lagos state.”

The report further stated that the Chief Judge assured them that
their request on staff welfare would be dealt with as a matter of
urgency and that a chain of communication has been opened on the
issue.

The report said a committee was set up immediately to look into
it and listed the committee to include the Chief Registrar, the
Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Permanent
Secretary, Industrial Relations, Permanent Secretary. Solicitor
General, the Special Adviser on Labour Related Matter and the JUSUN
representatives.

Onigbanjo in his statement confirmed that the judiciary has been
enjoying Financial Autonomy and he sees no reason for the strike
action in Lagos State.

The Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola in his address,
stated that while he cannot prevent the union from joining the
strike, it should be in solidarity since the State has been 100 per
cent compliant.
He also pleaded that the courts should be open for service to the
public.

The JUSUN Executive, in their reply to the meeting, stated that
the report would be forwarded to the National Secretariat in Abuja
for further directives.

Lagos State government has urged the striking members of the
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to resume and open the
gates of the courts to litigants.

The appeal was made on Thursday at a meeting the executives of
JUSUN in the state held with representatives of the government.

The state government, during the meeting, averred that there was
no need for the strike as the judiciary is already enjoying full
financial autonomy in accordance with the provisions of the
constitution, the various court judgment, and Executive Order
10.

The meeting was presided by the Chief Judge of the state,
Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Others at the meeting included the Attorney General, Moyosore
Onigbanjo SAN, the Head of Service among others.

Recall that JUSUN had presented a table of demand which
included: “Full Implementation of Financial Autonomy as supported
in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (As
Amended), Eight of Staff busses, allowances for the members of
Staff which should be gazetted in the payslip, special duty
allowances, robe allowance for the legal registrar, incidental
allowance for the Sheriff and wardrobe allowance for other
cadres.

A report of the meeting made available to newsmen by the state
Assistant Secretary JUSUN, Adesanya Dare David stated that Justice
Alogba who presided over the meeting stated that” Lagos State
Judiciary has been enjoying the total compliance of Financial
Autonomy on Recurrent Expenditures at 100 per cent from the State
and on Capital Expenditure, he also stated that Lagos State
Government has also been compliance 75 per cent.”

The Chief judge stated further that “though it could be better
they are very satisfied with the Lagos State Government and the
strike action is not needed in Lagos state.”

The report further stated that the Chief Judge assured them that
their request on staff welfare would be dealt with as a matter of
urgency and that a chain of communication has been opened on the
issue.

The report said a committee was set up immediately to look into
it and listed the committee to include the Chief Registrar, the
Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Permanent
Secretary, Industrial Relations, Permanent Secretary. Solicitor
General, the Special Adviser on Labour Related Matter and the JUSUN
representatives.

Onigbanjo in his statement confirmed that the judiciary has been
enjoying Financial Autonomy and he sees no reason for the strike
action in Lagos State.

The Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola in his address,
stated that while he cannot prevent the union from joining the
strike, it should be in solidarity since the State has been 100 per
cent compliant.
He also pleaded that the courts should be open for service to the
public.

The JUSUN Executive, in their reply to the meeting, stated that
the report would be forwarded to the National Secretariat in Abuja
for further directives.