The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, has directed its members across Nigeria to shut down all courts in the country with the exception of federal courts for failure to implement the judgment of a Federal High Court on the financial autonomy of the state judiciaries.
In a communique issued at the end of emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the union, JUSUN also asked federal judiciary workers to be at alert because they may be requested to join the strike in solidarity with their state chapters.
The communique, which was jointly signed by the National President of the union, Marwan Adamu, and the General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, also disclosed that the national secretariat of the union has taken over the industrial dispute embarked upon by the Rivers state JUSUN recently over leadership crisis.
JUSUN further described as “unfair” for both the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, JSC, to issue two separate directives for and against returning to work, adding that the workers cannot serve two masters at the same time.
He said the union members in Rivers would not resume work unless the critical stakeholders in the state amicably resolve the matter so as to ensure security of the workers.
According to the communique, “the security and protection of our members is no longer guaranteed in this leadership crisis that engulfed the Rivers State Judiciary in the last one year”.
It also said “after the exhaustive deliberation on the refusal/failure of state Governments to respect/implement the Federal High Court Abuja, judgment /orders in respect of financial autonomy of state Judiciaries as well as failure of stakeholders to abide by the decision to set up a technical implementation committee of the FAAC meeting of 17th June 2014, it is resolved by NEC:
“That all Judiciary staff at state level nationwide should proceed on an indefinite strike with effect from Friday 11th July 2014.
“That the National secretariat of the union shall notify Federal Judiciary workers to join the action as events unfolds.
“that the National Executive Committee of the union after a review of events in Rivers state Judiciary also resolved that JUSUN members in the state should continue and sustain their current strike until the major stakeholders, fine an amicable resolution of the leadership crisis in Rivers state judiciary. Meanwhile the NEC in session has announced total takeover of action in River state” .
