JUSUN: Reps Interface With FG, States To End Strike

Worried by the continued shutting of courts due to the
industrial strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria
(JUSUN), the House of Representatives on Thursday decided to
interface with key stakeholders to resolve the matters.

To this end, the House its Committees on Labour, Employment and
Productivity and Judiciary including that of the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT to meet with the Minister of Labour and Employment,
Chris Ngige and the Attorney–General of the Federation and the
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to ascertain steps so far
taken to address the matter.

It also urged the federal and state governments to speedily
intervene and resolve the lingering strike.

The resolution followed a motion titled “Call on the Federal
Government to Ensure Speedy Resolution of the Lingering Strike
Action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)”, moved by
Hon. Sergius Ose Ogun at Thursday plenary.

It will be recalled that JUSUN had on 6 April 2021 embarked on
an indefinite strike owing to the failure of the government to
implement financial autonomy for the Judiciary in line with
constitutional provisions and the judgement of the Federal High
Court.

In his motion, Ogun noted that the House noted that Section 4(2)
(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999
(as amended) provided that the National Assembly shall have the
power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the
federation or any part thereof.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the strike, which has
persisted for over a month, has paralyzed the functions, operations
and activities of all courts in Nigeria, thereby shutting the door
on access to justice against Nigerians.

“The Judiciary is a critical component of the government that is
saddled with the responsibility of adjudication of disputes which
facilitates the smooth running and functioning of the State and as
such, the closure of courts portends grave danger to the polity and
is capable of exacerbating the current security situation in the
country.

“The strike has contributed to the overcrowding of police cells
and correctional facilities across the country as inmates are
unable to go for trial or even get bail, as well as festering of
disputes between private citizens as there is no judicial forum to
submit their grievances for resolution.

“The Federal Government and some States Governments for the
steps they have taken so to resolves the dispute so that the strike
can be called off”, he said.

Adopting the motion, the House gave the committees 2 weeks
within which to conclude the assignment and report back to the
House for further legislative action.

Worried by the continued shutting of courts due to the
industrial strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria
(JUSUN), the House of Representatives on Thursday decided to
interface with key stakeholders to resolve the matters.

To this end, the House its Committees on Labour, Employment and
Productivity and Judiciary including that of the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT to meet with the Minister of Labour and Employment,
Chris Ngige and the Attorney–General of the Federation and the
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to ascertain steps so far
taken to address the matter.

It also urged the federal and state governments to speedily
intervene and resolve the lingering strike.

The resolution followed a motion titled “Call on the Federal
Government to Ensure Speedy Resolution of the Lingering Strike
Action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)”, moved by
Hon. Sergius Ose Ogun at Thursday plenary.

It will be recalled that JUSUN had on 6 April 2021 embarked on
an indefinite strike owing to the failure of the government to
implement financial autonomy for the Judiciary in line with
constitutional provisions and the judgement of the Federal High
Court.

In his motion, Ogun noted that the House noted that Section 4(2)
(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999
(as amended) provided that the National Assembly shall have the
power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the
federation or any part thereof.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the strike, which has
persisted for over a month, has paralyzed the functions, operations
and activities of all courts in Nigeria, thereby shutting the door
on access to justice against Nigerians.

“The Judiciary is a critical component of the government that is
saddled with the responsibility of adjudication of disputes which
facilitates the smooth running and functioning of the State and as
such, the closure of courts portends grave danger to the polity and
is capable of exacerbating the current security situation in the
country.

“The strike has contributed to the overcrowding of police cells
and correctional facilities across the country as inmates are
unable to go for trial or even get bail, as well as festering of
disputes between private citizens as there is no judicial forum to
submit their grievances for resolution.

“The Federal Government and some States Governments for the
steps they have taken so to resolves the dispute so that the strike
can be called off”, he said.

Adopting the motion, the House gave the committees 2 weeks
within which to conclude the assignment and report back to the
House for further legislative action.