JUSUN Remains Firm In Quest For Financial Autonomy For Judiciary — Official

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) says it remains
firm in its quest for the implementation of financial autonomy for
the judiciary, until its demands are met.

The National Secretary of JUSUN, Mr Isaiah Adetola, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the union was tired of broken
promises.

He said that in 2015 the union had embarked on a prolonged
strike action following which there was a memorandum of
understanding from the state governors, which understanding was
never kept.

Adetola said, the union will hold a meeting with the Minister of
Labour, adding that if such resolution on implementation of its
demand for financial autonomy is presented and endorsed by all,
then the strike can be called off.

”Where such endorsement is not implemented to the letter, the
union would again, resume its strike action

“You see, we are tired of promises and promises that will be
broken after a little while; if you remember we went on strike in
2015 for same actualisation of financial autonomy and even went to
the extent of taking an MOU from the governors and at the end, they
relented.

“Today we are going to the ministry of labour; the meeting was
rescheduled for Thursday last week but while we were about leaving
our office we got a text message that the meeting has been
postponed indefinitely

“Yesterday, we were at the front of the court of appeal in Abuja
where we demonstrated and later asked our people to go home because
the Minister of labour has equally invited us for another round of
meeting today at 3 p.m., with these governors; whether they will
cancel it we don’t know.

“JUSUN is not the writer of the constitution of Nigeria; it is
the grundnorm for all of us and the very law that created the
executive, the judiciary and the legislature.

“It takes two to tangle, so if we see them today at the ministry
of labour and they come out with that resolution and we all endorse
it, the whole world will hear about it, then we call the strike
off, and wait for implementation

“Where they do not implement within a reasonable time, then we
are coming out again,” he said

Adetola also faulted online reports suggesting that the JUSUN
strike had been suspended following an address by its National
President, comrade Marwa, and described same as a ploy.

According to him, the JUSUN President is not fine enough to
address the press as he is currently receiving medical
attention.

“What you hear from me is authoritative; we have not called off
the strike, anything to the contrary is a ploy, a deception and a
waste of time,” he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN had on April
6, began a nationwide strike action, calling for a full
implementation of judicial financial autonomy as provided for by
the 1999 constitution.

Following an emergency meeting by the union’s National Working
Committee on April 15, a circular was issued on April 16 in which
it was announced that a peaceful protest will be held in Abuja, to
further drive home JUSUN’s demand.

The union had also directed all its branches in the 36 States of
the Federation to replicate the “march” in their various
jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr
Olumdie Akpata in a statement issued on April 16, also directed all
NBA branch chairmen, to mobilise their members, for a visit to
their respective state governors seeking compliance with
constitutional provisions on judicial autonomy.

NAN reports that following the various protest, on Monday, the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) consequently, said it will ensure
implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and
judiciary institutions by May 2021.

Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi had given the assurances
after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.
Ibrahim Gambari at the Statehouse.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) says it remains
firm in its quest for the implementation of financial autonomy for
the judiciary, until its demands are met.

The National Secretary of JUSUN, Mr Isaiah Adetola, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the union was tired of broken
promises.

He said that in 2015 the union had embarked on a prolonged
strike action following which there was a memorandum of
understanding from the state governors, which understanding was
never kept.

Adetola said, the union will hold a meeting with the Minister of
Labour, adding that if such resolution on implementation of its
demand for financial autonomy is presented and endorsed by all,
then the strike can be called off.

”Where such endorsement is not implemented to the letter, the
union would again, resume its strike action

“You see, we are tired of promises and promises that will be
broken after a little while; if you remember we went on strike in
2015 for same actualisation of financial autonomy and even went to
the extent of taking an MOU from the governors and at the end, they
relented.

“Today we are going to the ministry of labour; the meeting was
rescheduled for Thursday last week but while we were about leaving
our office we got a text message that the meeting has been
postponed indefinitely

“Yesterday, we were at the front of the court of appeal in Abuja
where we demonstrated and later asked our people to go home because
the Minister of labour has equally invited us for another round of
meeting today at 3 p.m., with these governors; whether they will
cancel it we don’t know.

“JUSUN is not the writer of the constitution of Nigeria; it is
the grundnorm for all of us and the very law that created the
executive, the judiciary and the legislature.

“It takes two to tangle, so if we see them today at the ministry
of labour and they come out with that resolution and we all endorse
it, the whole world will hear about it, then we call the strike
off, and wait for implementation

“Where they do not implement within a reasonable time, then we
are coming out again,” he said

Adetola also faulted online reports suggesting that the JUSUN
strike had been suspended following an address by its National
President, comrade Marwa, and described same as a ploy.

According to him, the JUSUN President is not fine enough to
address the press as he is currently receiving medical
attention.

“What you hear from me is authoritative; we have not called off
the strike, anything to the contrary is a ploy, a deception and a
waste of time,” he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN had on April
6, began a nationwide strike action, calling for a full
implementation of judicial financial autonomy as provided for by
the 1999 constitution.

Following an emergency meeting by the union’s National Working
Committee on April 15, a circular was issued on April 16 in which
it was announced that a peaceful protest will be held in Abuja, to
further drive home JUSUN’s demand.

The union had also directed all its branches in the 36 States of
the Federation to replicate the “march” in their various
jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr
Olumdie Akpata in a statement issued on April 16, also directed all
NBA branch chairmen, to mobilise their members, for a visit to
their respective state governors seeking compliance with
constitutional provisions on judicial autonomy.

NAN reports that following the various protest, on Monday, the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) consequently, said it will ensure
implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and
judiciary institutions by May 2021.

Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi had given the assurances
after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.
Ibrahim Gambari at the Statehouse.