Judiciary workers Begin Nationwide Strike January 2

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has described as “insensitive” the failure of stakeholders to respect the last memorandum of understanding regarding financial autonomy of the Judiciary, as such the union will commence an indefinite strike from January 2, 2015.

The union after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC), in Abuja, said the action became imperative, considering the “rough terrain encountered by the union to make the governors implement the judgment of Federal High Court delivered on 13th January, 2014 but fall on deaf ears.”

According to a communique made available to journalists, jointly signed by the union President, comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Placidus Nnamani, it stated that it is obvious that the state Governors are deliberately disobeying and frustrating the independence of Judiciary.

JUSUN said their action amounts to a level of “insincerity and insensitive” of the Governors and the insecurity in the process of democratic principles as they have conspired not to allow a constitutional guaranteed and provided partner to exercise its due rights.

The union also said the Accountant General of the Federation is suspected to have compromised his position and authority imposed on him by the court order.

It would be recalled that the previously intended strike was suspended following the last Memorandum of understanding supervised by the Minister of Labour, the recent Memorandum of understanding dated 27th November, 2014 is breached during the last Federation Account Allocations Committee (FAAC) meeting in December 2014.

JUSUN warned that “the indefinite strike shall commence from 2nd day of January 2015, until the total compliance with the judgment of the Court, and the terms contained in the Memorandum of understanding”, adding the union will not take responsibility of any mishap as a result of the breach.

Some of the efforts of the union includes securing a Court judgment in a suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/66/2013, JUSUN vs National Judicial Council and 73 others, serving of said judgment on the debtors, the Federal Accountant General, State Accountants general and state auditor general for compliance and until the statutory period of Appeal, and now none of the judgment debtors or the parties served with the Court order have appealed against it.

JUSUN, however said, ” we think, it is time to free the Judiciary from the captives, stangulations and imprisonments by the state governors.”

Source: Leadership.ng