Nigerian judicial workers suspend two-month old strike

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (NJC) has suspended its nationwide strike of over two months at a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday

Penpushing reports that, the announcement of the longest industrial action embarked upon by  the Nigerian judiciary was contained in a communiqué citing the intervention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other stakeholders in reaching the decision

The Deputy President of the union, Emmanuel Abioye, and General Secretary, Isiah Adetola said the National Executive Council(NEC) at the meeting, discussed extensively and after putting so many issues into consideration

“NEC-in-session discussed extensively and after putting so many issues into consideration i.e. the intervention of the NJC and other stakeholders, the NEC has resolved that the strike is hereby suspended’,the communiqué reads.

JUSUN had convened the NEC meeting following an appeal by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the union to call off the nationwide strike in the interest of the nation.The NJC led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammed, had made the appeal to the union at a meeting earlier on Tuesday.

‘The union which commended the CJN, state Chief Judges, and other stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring the resolution of the crisis, also sought the protection of its members from persecution and “peculiar allowance” for its members’.

“NEC-in-session agreed that there shall be introduction of peculiar allowance throughout the state and federal courts. NEC-in-session unanimously reiterated that no member of JUSUN should be victimised on strike action,” it added

‘Therefore, the union in its communique issued at the end of its Wednesday’s meeting pleaded with “the NJC, the Presidential Implementation Committee, Attorney-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, and all stakeholders to see that the issue of judiciary financial autonomy is laid to rest finally as provided in section 81(3), 121(3), and 162(9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

It “condemns the actions of the Governors of Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states for withholding salaries of judiciary in their various states for months and urge all governors involved to do the needful. NEC-in-session agreed that there shall be introduction of peculiar allowance throughout the State and Federal Courts.

“At the end of deliberations, Council advised JUSUN to consider suspending the strike in the interest of Administration of Justice and National interest. The statement also said the NJC set up a committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement on the judiciary’s financial autonomy which the union signed with the state governors.

“The council thereafter set up a five-man committee in order to monitor the implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and JUSUN,” the statement added.

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