‘Nigerians Have Been Denied Good Governance’, Ubani Backs JUSUN Strike

A former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),
Monday Ubani has backed the strike embarked upon by the Judiciary
Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), saying Nigerians have been denied
good governance.

JUSUN had on April 6 declared a nationwide strike to press home
its demands, thereby crippling activities in courts and judicial
institutions across the country.

Just yesterday, members of the union in collaboration with the
NBA also protested against the failure of the governor to allow
financial autonomy in states.

But speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s
Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Ubani accused Nigerian governors of
controlling the judicial and legislative arms of government.

“I see no reason why we have delayed so much but somebody has
also pointed out that the governors actually wanted a situation
whereby they will be in total control of the other two arms of
government and that is why Nigerians have not been getting good
governance,” he said.

“Both at the judicial and parliamentary levels, these governors
when they come in, want to control the State House of Assembly,
determine who becomes the Speaker and fail to give them that
particular independence they require in order to checkmate what
goes on at the Executive.”

When asked why it is taking so long for governors to grant
financial autonomy to judicial workers, the legal practitioner said
“they were deriving so much pleasure in the undue control they have
exerted over the other two arms of government over time.”

Giving an instance, the senior lawyer said when governors
purchase vehicles for judges in their states; they invite the press
and create a situation to suggest they are doing the jurists a
favour.

While declaring the move as an aberration, Ubani commended JUSUN
for embarking on the industrial action, insisting that the strike
is long overdue.

Since April 6, courts in Nigeria have been under lock and key
because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the
judiciary as the third arm of government.

JUSUN had alleged that the Federal and State governments had
over the years, declined to grant financial autonomy to the
judiciary.

The NBA President had earlier on Friday directed its branch
chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their
states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement
judiciary’s financial autonomy.

A statement by the president of the association, Olumide Akpata,
directed the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more
like peaceful protests, on Monday, and on all other subsequent
Mondays until the demand for the judiciary’s financial autonomy is
met.

It urged the branch leaders “to effectively mobilise their
members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government
houses” to press home the demand.

A former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),
Monday Ubani has backed the strike embarked upon by the Judiciary
Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), saying Nigerians have been denied
good governance.

JUSUN had on April 6 declared a nationwide strike to press home
its demands, thereby crippling activities in courts and judicial
institutions across the country.

Just yesterday, members of the union in collaboration with the
NBA also protested against the failure of the governor to allow
financial autonomy in states.

But speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s
Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Ubani accused Nigerian governors of
controlling the judicial and legislative arms of government.

“I see no reason why we have delayed so much but somebody has
also pointed out that the governors actually wanted a situation
whereby they will be in total control of the other two arms of
government and that is why Nigerians have not been getting good
governance,” he said.

“Both at the judicial and parliamentary levels, these governors
when they come in, want to control the State House of Assembly,
determine who becomes the Speaker and fail to give them that
particular independence they require in order to checkmate what
goes on at the Executive.”

When asked why it is taking so long for governors to grant
financial autonomy to judicial workers, the legal practitioner said
“they were deriving so much pleasure in the undue control they have
exerted over the other two arms of government over time.”

Giving an instance, the senior lawyer said when governors
purchase vehicles for judges in their states; they invite the press
and create a situation to suggest they are doing the jurists a
favour.

While declaring the move as an aberration, Ubani commended JUSUN
for embarking on the industrial action, insisting that the strike
is long overdue.

Since April 6, courts in Nigeria have been under lock and key
because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the
judiciary as the third arm of government.

JUSUN had alleged that the Federal and State governments had
over the years, declined to grant financial autonomy to the
judiciary.

The NBA President had earlier on Friday directed its branch
chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their
states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement
judiciary’s financial autonomy.

A statement by the president of the association, Olumide Akpata,
directed the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more
like peaceful protests, on Monday, and on all other subsequent
Mondays until the demand for the judiciary’s financial autonomy is
met.

It urged the branch leaders “to effectively mobilise their
members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government
houses” to press home the demand.