Strike continues, Edo JUSUN insists

The Edo State chapter of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria on Monday vowed to keep activities in the various state courts grounded until the state government met its demands.

Judiciary workers in the state had, on January 5, joined their ‎counterparts in a nationwide strike to demand financial independence for the judiciary.

This followed a court ruling by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 13, 2014 upholding the financial autonomy for the arm of government and ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation to deduct funds meant for the judiciary in the Federation Account and remit same to the various heads of court.

‎The union had on January 25 directed its members in the federal courts to resume work, while the Kwara State chapter followed suit on Sunday.

But the Edo JUSUN Chairman, ‎Uyi Ogieriakhi, told our correspond during an interview in Benin that state government was yet to show any commitment towards ending the strike.

Ogieriakhi said separate meetings held with the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ‎had been inconclusive, even when the demands “are very clear.”

He explained that among the demands were the payment of the July, 2014 and January, 2015 salaries of the members, which he noted had been denied them due to their involvement in the nationwide strike.

Ogieriakhi said, “In Edo, nothing has happened, just as we met the Honourable Attorney-General twice, last week. The meeting was inconclusive. We are still hoping to meet with the governor.‎

“The demands are very clear. First of all, the executive should implement the financial independence of the judiciary.

“Then, there is this issue of July salary for workers, for embarking on a nationwide strike; It’s only Edo State that refused to pay July salary to its workers‎ and it has refused to pay January salary.

“So, let them implement the court order ruling; pay July salary; pay January salary; put it in black and white. Even if you say, at the end of the day, that you are giving us full financial autonomy, let us see that, reasonably, you have done commitment that the government and the national secretariat believes. We can now know what to do from there.”

While urging the state government to release the salaries of the protesting workers, the chairman, however, insisted that the courts would remain locked until the grey areas were identified and addressed.