Judiciary workers threaten to resume strike Dec 1

Judiciary workers threaten to resume strike Dec 1

Judiciary workers, under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, have threatened to resume their nationwide strike over the alleged unwillingness of state governments to implement court judgment barring piece-meal funding of the nation’s judiciary.

The union, which suspended its three-week strike in July, took the decision to resume the industrial action at an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Saturday.

A communiqué jointly signed by the union’s President, Marwan Adamu, and its General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, was released to journalists on Sunday.

The union said it chose December 1 to resume the strike because it decided to grant the seven days requested by the stakeholders who assured the union’s officials of their readiness to implement the court judgment.

The stakeholders were said to have demanded the seven days at the last of a series of meetings held with the union on November 19.

Stakeholders who had been part of the negotiation with the union include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, the Supervising Minister for Labour and Productivity, Minister of State for Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation, representatives of the Attorney-General of the Federation and a representative of Commissioners of Finance Forum and
Commissioner of Finance.

JUSUN’s communiqué read in part, “NEC in session resolved that the seven days requested by stakeholders to conclude and begin implementation of the said judgment, be granted as an act of respect for the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (Justice Mahmud Mohammed), subject, however, to no further extension of time.

“NEC-in-Session condemns the unwarranted delay in the implementation of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on the 13th day of January, 2014.

“Consequently, NEC-in-session hereby resolved that all Judiciary workers nationwide shall resume the suspended strike action on Monday, the first day of December, 2014 in events, the technical committee fails.

“NEC-in-session appreciated the leadership role displayed by the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar, while in office.

“NEC-in-session also congratulates the new CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on his appointment and do hope he shall keep the flag of Judiciary in Nigeria flying.”

A series of meetings had been held with the union in order to fashion out the way state governments in particular will begin the implementation of the judgment.