Financial Autonomy: Judiciary Workers Commence Strike Tuesday

By Alex Enumah

Judiciary workers will from Tuesday commence an indefinite strike to protest the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

While the federal government has allowed for financial autonomy of the third arm of government, state governments were however yet to give financial independence to states’ Judiciary.

Reacting to the refusal of states to implement the policy, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) accordingly directed its members across the country to shut down courts nationwide beginning from Tuesday.

JUSUN had on March 13, 2021 issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government which elapsed on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

The strike, which was scheduled for Monday, was however shifted to Tuesday, April 6, 2021, owing to the Easter holiday.

According to a statement by JUSUN President, Comrade Adamu, “All courts and other departments would be shut until and unless the government does the needful.”

Similarly, a circular with Ref.no.JUSUN/NHQ/GEN/111/VOL.11/65 dated April 1, 2021 and signed by JUSUN’s General Secretary, Comrade Isaiah Adetola, directed members of JUSUN across the country to comply with the directive by the NEC of the Union.

“I have been directed to refer to the communiqué issued at the end of the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of JUSUN on March 13, 2021 in Abuja and particularly refer to paragraph 9 on 21-day ultimatum to government to implement the financial autonomy of the Judiciary, failure of which JUSUN will have no option but to resume the suspended national strike.

“Therefore, as a result of public holiday on April 5, 2021, the strike action has been postponed to Tuesday April 6, 2021.

“You are directed to shut down courts/departments in your states until further notice from the National Secretariat of JUSUN in Abuja,” the circular read.