Nigeria: Judiciary Workers to Embark On Strike

Abuja — There are strong indications that the nation's Judiciary system would be paralysed in the new year, except an immediate action is taken.

This is because the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from January 2, 2015 over the failure of stakeholders to respect the last memorandum of understanding regarding financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

JUSUN after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, said the planned strike became imperative, considering the "rough terrain encountered by the union to make the state governors implement the judgment of Federal High Court delivered on January 13, 2014 which it lamented fell on deaf ears".

In a communique made available to journalists which was jointly signed by the President of the union, Marwan Mustapha Adamu, and Assistant General Secretary, Placidus Nnamani, said it was obvious that the state governors are deliberately disobeying and frustrating the independence of judiciary.

The union said their action amounts to "insincerity and insensitivity" of the governors and the insecurity in the process of democratic principles as they have conspired not to allow a constitutional guaranteed and provided partners to exercise its due rights.

JUSUN also alleged that 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 by the union was suspended following the last Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) supervised by the Minister of Labour.
JUSUN however warned that "the indefinite strike which would start on January 2, 2015 would be total until the total compliance with the judgment of the Court, and the terms contained in the Memorandum of Understanding."

It added that the union would not take responsibility of any mishap as a result of the breach.