NBA President, Chairmen Urge JUSUN To End Strike

NBA President, Chairmen Urge JUSUN To End Strike

The President of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN) yesterday in Lagos pleaded with members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to call off their ongoing strike, and embrace dialogue.

Alegeh, who spoke alongside the Chairmen of the Lagos, Ikeja and Ikorodu branches of the NBA, said that the strike action had caused untold hardship on lawyers and that it should be resolved as quickly as possible.

The Judiciary workers had embarked on a nationwide strike action on January 2, to compel government to implement a Federal High Court in Abuja Judgment, granting financial autonomy to the judiciary.

The NBA President noted that although JUSUN had a good cause since there was a valid court's judgment in its favour, the effect of the strike action on the masses was however, enormous.

"We appreciate the position of JUSUN, but it is important to note that the defendants in the suit are not the only users of the courts; the courts are also accessible to by members of the public.

"The court remains the last resort of the common man and we must appreciate that these are very critical political times in the country.

"Various political parties are conducting primaries and the court is the only avenue for individuals to ventilate their grievances; so, we cannot afford for the courts to be shut down at this point.

"It will have a negative impact on the citizenry; so, on that grounds, we are appealing to JUSUN to call off its strike," he said 

Alegeh also urged the union to employ other workable means of getting the court's judgment complied with and implemented.

The Chairman of the Lagos branch of NBA, Alex Muoka pointed out that the strike action had affected activities of lawyers and the administration of justice  in the country. 

"We support the demands that JUSUN is making, so, it is now for the government to abide by the decision of the court on financial autonomy for the judiciary.

"Basically, it is important for the government to implement a full fledge autonomy for the judiciary, as ordered by the court.

"We sympathise with JUSUN in this regard, and appeal to the authorities to fulfill the union's demand; it is particularly painful because the strike has affected our clients, and our livelihood.

"JUSUN had embarked on this strike action last year, but called it off without their demands been met, so I think it will be difficult to ask them to call off this strike without the demands been satisfied," he said

Muoka therefore, appealed to the government, to implement the court's judgment on financial autonomy for the judiciary, in the interest of justice.

On his part, the Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the association, Yinka Farounbi said the strike is very unfortunate.

He stressed that since there had been no formal appeal against the judgment of the court, the natural consequence should be simply for the executive arm to abide by it.

"I am not aware of any formal appeal lodged against the judgment of the court, so it is rather unfortunate that there is difficulty in compliance.

"However, I want to urge JUSUN to confine its action within the law; if there has been non compliance with the judgment, then they should go back to court and initiate contempt proceedings against the necessary parties.

"The strike has affected even those who knows nothing about the court's judgment; some accused waiting to perfect their bail terms have also been affected by the situation," he said 

Farounbi therefore, urged the authorities to ensure a spontaneous resolution of the issues. 

Also in his own view, the Ikorodu branch Chairman of the NBA, Dotun Adetunji, urged government to accede to the demands of the union.

"Since this is a court's judgment arising from a constitutional issue, which has not been appealed, it is necessary for the executive to abide by the decision.

"The strike has caused a lot of hardships on lawyers and litigants in the country, and it is in the best interest of the society for it to be resolved amicably," he said.

He however counsel the workers not to see strikes as the only means to press home their demands, stressing that other means of enforcing court judgments should also be explored.