The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary has urged the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria ( JUSUN), to continue its strike at the state level but open federal courts
Chairman of the Committee, Luke Onofiok gave the advice at a meeting with the union in Abuja.
Onofiok said while the commitee is in solidarity with the union in their agitations for financial autonomy at the judiciary,it is not in agreement with the totality of the Industrial action at the federal courts given the fact that the federal government has abided by the provisions of the constitution in making sure that monies meant for federal judiciary is sent straight to the National Judicial Council adding that it is not fair for staff of the federal judiciary to continue with the strike.
” I know and sure it is solidarity forever,but let us narrow the strike to those who have not complied with this issue of financial autonomy”.he said.
He appealed to state governor’s to implement the section of the constitutiion that demands financial autonomy for the Judiciary adding that if we have all the arms of government operating on equal footing,we are going to have a better society.
Onofiok promised that the house will engage the Nigeriian Governors Forum (NGF), and all relevant stakeholders with a view to ensure Judicial financial autonomy.
Earlier, the Deputy National Chairman of JUSUN, Mr Emmanuel Abioye had said that the ongoing strike could have been avoided if the rule was respected.
Abioye said the issue of financial autonomy for the Judiciary had been ongoing since 1999 and that there is court judgement in favour of the union’s position which had not been executed in the past seven years.
He argued that of the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man is not Independent, how will the people get justice?
He appealed to the National Assembly to give the union maximum support to ensure that the laws it make are implemented.while he was of the view that the constitutiion should be amended to enable the National Assembly sanction erring lawmakers.
JUSUN embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday, April 6 over non- implementation of judicial financial autonomy as enshrined in the constitutiion.
An Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and state house of assembly was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2020, after several agitations.
However, the gazetting of the order was suspended after Buhari met with governors,who later expressed concern over its constitutionality.
