House Declares Support for JUSUN Agitation for Financial Autonomy for Judiciary
- Pleads with union to call off strike
By Adedayo Akinwale
The House of Representatives has declared its support for the Judiciary Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on its agitation for financial autonomy for the judiciary.
The union had on April 6 embarked on a nationwide strike to protest the non-implementation of the financial autonomy of the nation’s judiciary.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Onofiok Luke, stated this Wednesday when the committee engaged with the union leaders and pleaded with them to call off the strike.
He said the Green Chamber understands the need for the independence of the judiciary which he described as a major ingredient of democratic governance.
Luke stated: “Let me state here, this House understands the fact that a major ingredient of democratic governance is independence of the Judiciary. The House understands that, we have been advocating for it. It has found expression in the Legislative Agenda of the 9th National Assembly and we have acted and conducted our business in line with this understanding.
“So what makes for the independence of the Judiciary is the financial autonomy of the Judiciary where it will lead to a good working environment for the judicial officers and staff. It will lead to better welfare and judicial officers discharging their responsibility without any fear or favour.
“To that extent, we are in solidarity with you on the agitations that you are making to make sure that we have financial autonomy that will lead to the independence of the Judiciary.”
The chairman pointed out that the only point of divergence here is the totality of the industrial action.
Luke was of the opinion that it is not fair for the staff of the Judiciary at the federal level to embark on the current industrial action even when the federal government has abided by the constitution in making sure that money meant for federal Judiciary — statutory transfer — is sent straight to the National Judicial Council for the benefits of courts and other judicial bodies under the federal government.
According to him, “It is not fair for the staff of the Judiciary at the federal level to embark on this industrial action. I understand your agitation but please let’s narrow our agitation to those who have not complied with this issue of financial autonomy which are the states.”
The committee appealed to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to engage with JUSUN and to make sure that the constitution is complied with to make sure that there is financial autonomy not only for the state Legislatures but equally for the Judiciary at the state level.
Luke assured the union that the report would be made available to the House leadership and “let me emphasise that let us not punish others for the sins of others. Let us not in a bid to show solidarity punish litigants in federal courts for the sins of those at the state level. Let us place the blame squarely on the doorsteps of those who should take the blame”.
Earlier, the National Assistant Secretary of the union, Mr. Sheu Magaji, said JUSUN is fighting for all Nigerians and not fighting for themselves or asking for any gratification.
He stated: “Please, I’m begging, the National Assembly should do something if you can, if you can’t, allow us to do something that we think. Strike is the only thing that this country understands, strike is the only language that the government of this country understands.”
Magaji pointed out that the union was able to secure a court judgment years ago, which has not been appealed till today.
He revealed that the governors were carried along in the preparations of the template of the Executive Order, stressing that the only problem they have with the Executive Order is where it permitted the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to deduct from source in case of any state that defaulted.
Magaji added: “That is why they don’t want this Executive Order to see the light of the day because they don’t want anybody to touch their money. Is it their personal money? Is it not public money? Did they print this money from their own houses? Is it not for Nigerians? So what are we saying?
“Please, honourable members of this House, we thank you for your intervention, and we still appeal to all of you to give us maximum support so that we will see that the constitution of this country is not only being obeyed but it is obeyed completely.”
On his part, the Deputy National President of the union, Mr. Emmanuel Abioye, said the two major reasons why they embarked on strike was because the constitution has not been implemented regarding financial autonomy for the judiciary, while the court judgment obtained seven years ago has not been complied with.
He noted that there was no appeal and there was no stay of execution on the judgment.
Following the plea by the House for the union to suspend its strike, Abioye stressed that its National Executive Committee (NEC) would be briefed before any decision can be taken.
