By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Federal Government has said the strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) will soon end.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige stated this on Thursday after a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government negotiating team and the two unions in his office.

Ngige said the government side had made offers to the two unions for them to consult with their various National Executive Committees and report back.

The labour minister said a lot of work went into the proposal given by the government’s side to the two unions which he said substantially addressed their demands for judicial and legislative autonomy in the 36 states.

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He explained that the proposal was produced by the committee of the government side, comprising the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), the Secretary of the Presidential Committee for the Implementation of Judicial and Legislative Autonomy, Senator Ita Enang, representative of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Director-General of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

Ngige said: “A lot of work went in. We have exchanged briefs with the JUSUN and PASAN. They have their demands, which they had earlier submitted. The government side has given counter offers and properly addressed the burning issue of financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary.”

He explained that questions were asked and answered, while critical observations were made on the proposal given by the government side.

Ngige said the meeting has been adjourned with a view to enabling JUSUN and PASAN take back the government proposal to their members in their National Executive Committees.

“We expect them to work on the documents from tomorrow and if they are satisfied, they should inform us. And you know that when they are satisfied, the logical thing is to call off the industrial dispute. So, we are to receive their views on the government offer by Tuesday morning,” the minister said.