Nigeria: Judiciary workers begin nationwide strike over financial autonomy

Nigeria: Judiciary workers begin nationwide strike over financial autonomy

WorldStage Newsonline-- Judiciary activities were paralysed Monday across Nigeria as workers under the auspices of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) began a nationwide strike to demand that government should comply with the order of a Federal High Court granting financial autonomy to the judiciary.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on January 14, 2014 ruled that the Federal Government and the 36 states of the federation should no longer hold funds meant for the judiciary, saying the practice of piecemeal disbursement of funds to the judiciary by the executive was unconstitutional and also threatened the independence of the judiciary.

“The Attorney General of the Federation and the states should act responsibly and promptly to avoid constitutional crisis in this country by ensuring financial autonomy for the judiciary,” the judge ordered.

President of JUSUN, Marwan Adamu, told journalists at the gate of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the strike would be indefinite until their demands were met.

He said: “There is no going back until they respect the court judgment.

“Justice Adeniyi Ademola delivered the judgment since January 14, last year and since then, the government engaged us in series of discussions about 20 times. We have also signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) seven times, yet nothing positive has come out of it.

“In particular, let me be specific, the office of the Accountant General refused to obey the court judgment. There is an order directing him to deduct that money and pay to the National Judicial Council but he has failed to do this.”

Source: World Stage