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Tag: Judicial workers

  • Judicial workers threaten to shut down courts

    Judicial workers in the country under the auspices of the  Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has threatened to disrupt courts activities, as well tribunal sittings across the country if the planned removal of the Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, is carried out.

    JUSUN National President Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu said such recommendation was null and void and cannot stand the test of time and Warner that the union would not be guaranteed industrial harmony in the  judiciary, as her members would be withdrawn from all courts in the country should the governor be allow to carry out his evil motive of removing the Chief Justice

    Comrade Mustapha said: “We condemned this wicked recommendation for the removal of the Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasir Ajanah by the State House. We warned against total shut down of nation’s judiciary in solidarity with our members in the state who have been on strike for five months over this matter and also that the matter is pending in Court.

    “We see this action by the lawmakers as an affront to the Judiciary and against the doctrine of separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended. We also believe that for the Assembly to even deliberate on the matter is subjudice, since the issue is before the court.

    “The national headquarters of the union had earlier seek for an audience with the Governor on how best to resolve the matter but all do not avail”.

    Judicial workers in the state have been on strike since December 2018 over non-remittance of funds accruing to the state Judiciary resulting in eight months accumulated salary arrears.

    The workers last month approached the National Industrial Court.

    The union urged the court to determine whether the Executive arm had the powers or constitutional right to usurp the powers of the JSC, by scheming to take over payment of judiciary staff salaries and other emoluments without reference to and approval of the Commission.

    It also sought the determination of the Industrial Court whether, on the other hand, the Chief Judge and other heads of courts had received any subvention since July 1, 2018, and have refused to pay the salaries and emoluments of staff.

    JUSUN urged the court to declare that subject to the provisions of the constitution and laws of Kogi State, amounts standing to the credit of Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state, be paid directly to the heads of courts.

    It also urged the court to declare that the Executive lacked the power to withhold funds accruing to the Judiciary, and its continued refusal to remit such funds were unconstitutional, illegal, ultra vires, wrong, null and void; and of no effect.

     

  • CJN condemns attack on courts in Port-Harcourt 

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has condemned last Friday’s reported attack on courts and judicial workers in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Onnoghen warned that such attach on the Judiciary was not only a signed on grave moral depravity among political actors, but a major threat to the nation’s democracy.

    The CJN however assured that the Judiciary will not succumb to intimidation and was determined, more than ever before, to dispense justice with the required speed, particularly political matters.

    Onnghen, in a statement issued Monday by his spokesman, Awassam Bassey, praised security agencies for preventing a major break down of law and order.

    The CJN said, from report, the Port-Harcourt attack was aimed at stopping the court from sitting and delivering a ruling in an intra-party dispute of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in respect of the Local Government congresses of the party in the state.

    The CJN, who noted with concern that this magnitude of violence could be visited on the Judiciary during a Ward/Local Government intra-party primary election, wondered what the situation would be during the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

    Part of the statement reads: “This latest act of intimidation of the judiciary and the unwarranted violence against a peaceful institution of an arm of government is quite disturbing.

    “More importantly, such show of shame ought not to be encouraged by right thinking members of the Nigerian public.

    f the enemies of our peace and democracy succeed or get away with what occurred at the High Court in Port-Harcourt, it would be a source of encouragement to them to do same to the court of Appeal, and ultimately, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, whenever any one of them perceives that a judgment may be delivered against any of them or the interests they represent.

    “The Judiciary remains the last hope of man, and our judges and judicial officers are called upon to remain true to their oath of office.

    “They must remain focused, resolute, and courageous, regardless of the effort at intimidating them.

    “The Nigerian public is urged to continue to have faith in the Judiciary of the nation.

    “Any person with a legitimate complaint against another person, organisation or institution is advised to employ the civilised and legal mode of redress as contained and guaranteed by our Constitution.

    “Whoever is dissatisfied with the outcome of decisions of our courts of law has the right of appeal as constitutionally guaranteed. The Judiciary will never fail in its duties.

    “Violence, the type visited on the Judiciary of Rivers State is alien to any civilised society and therefore condemnable.”

    Read Also: Stop leaking judgments, CJN tells court workers

     

  • Obaseki seeks National Policy on capacity building for Judicial workers

    Obaseki seeks National Policy on capacity building for Judicial workers

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has made a strong case for the enhancement of judicial workers’ capacity in the National Policy on Justice 2017, which is currently being reviewed.

    According to Obaseki, this will address the capacity challenge faced by operators in the judicial system with consequent impact on the rights of Nigerian citizens, and law and order.

    Obaseki made the case while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the National Policy on Justice in Benin City, on Monday.

    He said, “The policy should address the issues of sound structures and processes for the judicial system; the need to improve capacities of judicial operators, and put into consideration the role of alternative dispute system in the country to protect the rights of citizens.”

    The governor said that the implementation of a National Policy on justice is apt as the Nigerian Justice System needs to be reformed.

    “Our administrative justice system craves for reforms. There is need to restore absolute confidence in our justice sector. There are still doubts about the Nigerian judiciary system being the hope of the common man, we are hoping that all the identified challenges in the judicial system would be addressed in the policy, to make for efficient justice delivery in the country.

    Obaseki noted that his administration has already embarked on the implementation of the action plan to improve justice delivery system in the state.

    He said the state government has cued into the initiative of the National Security Adviser on prison reform and plans to decongest the prison by 50 percent in March next year.

    He said that part of the reform includes the appointment of more judges to facilitate speedy trial, invest in technologies to improve record keeping in the courts and the construction of an ultra-modern court complex equipped with digital recording system.

    Earlier in his address, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, said the National Policy on Justice was necessitated by the absence of a policy framework to foster collaboration among stakeholders in the system.

    He said it is also in line with effort of the federal government to strengthen the justice delivery system to make it potent for the fight against corruption and protection of human right.  He added that the policy will be examined and reviewed through various inputs from participants.

    The Zonal National Sensitisation Workshop on the National Policy on Justice is organised under the Theme, “Reforming the Justice System For National Development.”

  • Judicial workers yet to get Dec pay

    Judicial workers yet to get Dec pay

    There is disaffection among federal judicial workers and judges of federal courts owing to the non-payment of their December salary.
    It was learnt yesterday that unlike workers of other arms of government, employees of federal judicial institutions have not been paid their December salary.
    Sources at the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) in Abuja blamed the delay on the Executive.
    It was learnt that the practice was for the Executive to deduct salaries and other funds due to federal judiciary from the first line charge and remit same to the relevant judicial authorities, a responsibility the Executive Arm is said not to have carried out, thereby depriving the judiciary of funds to meet basic needs, including salaries.
    “It is not only federal judges that are being owed December salary. All Federal judicial workers have not been paid their December salaries.
    “It is always deducted as a first line charge and sent to us. But that has not been done till now. So, we are waiting on the Executive arm to deduct and send to us. Until that is done, there is nothing we can do from our side here,” a source at the NJC told The Nation.
    Those being owed are justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, judges of Federal High Court and High Court of states, judges of the high courts of the FCT, judges of the Customary Courts of Appeal and the states, Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of FCT and the states.

  • Oshiomhole to Judicial workers: No work, no pay

    Oshiomhole to Judicial workers: No work, no pay

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said the Government will not use the taxes of workers to pay those who chose to stay at home for months on a strike that is ill-informed.

    Speaking at the 2015/2016 Legal Year of the State Judiciary, the Governor said the law is clear that a worker who embarks on a strike will forfeit his wage.

    It will be recalled that workers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state had embarked on a 7-month strike action to press home their demand for financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    The Governor who said the state is proud of her Judicial Arm said; “we in the Executive in Edo State have utmost respect for the Judicial Arm on account of the courage and hard work that you have displayed.”

    He however noted that; “Under Convention 98 of the ILO, it states clearly that you have a right to go on strike, otherwise, it is slave labour but the Trade Union Act is very clear that notwithstanding any reason, if you embark on a strike, you forfeit your wages. That is the law, that is the convention and this convention has been domesticated in our labour laws and I ask you to look at all the provisions taken together in the various Trade Dispute Acts and Amendment Act, you not only forfeit your wages, you forfeit your seniority and you can be dismissed summarily.

    “This is the law and the business of the court is to interpret the law without fear even if the litigant is an officer of the court. The court is not a respecter of its own employees so it must dispense justice even if it doesn’t favour  the officers of the High Court and that is what we have taken note to do.

    “I ask my Lord privately when he was pushing for this case and I put it here. At what point does it become acceptable that we resort to illegal tools in pursuance of legal ends? Can you seek legal ends resorting to illegal means? That is resorting to self help and if other groups resort to self help, the first casualty will be the judiciary. Survival of the fittest, everybody will go for cutlass.

    “So I ask that JUSUN must run the union within the provisions of the Trade Union Act and within the provisions of the Trade Dispute Acts and if they exceed those boundaries, there are consequences.

    “There would be more honour in vacating the office than to make compensation because even the Bible says that he who does not work does not deserve to eat. Wages are not gifts offered by a kind employer. Edo State Government will not pay wages for people who chose to go on holiday, otherwise, we will have to redefine law and order”.

    The Governor promised the Chief Judge that his administration will build more court rooms before the end of his tenure so that more Judges could be posted to the state to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    On taxation, Oshiomhole said the state would be firm in its collection of taxes as is the case the world over. According to him, “the rich must be ready to pay taxes and this Governor will ensure that the rich in this state pay taxes. We will collect them within the law, and if they don’t pay, we will push it to the highest level that we can. It’s in the enlightened self interest of the rich to contribute for the maintenance of peace and security.

    “When we construct 6-lane road to the Airport, those six lanes are not going to be used by people without vehicles. He who drives on those roads must pay, not only for the cost of building but for the cost of maintenance. When one man occupies 20, 000 square meters of an asset that is the most important for our collective will, out of about four million Edo people, one man takes 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 square metres of land scattered round the city, some own a whole street, if you must occupy that amount of space in a whole street and the poor are crowded  20 people, a man with 3 wives and children locked onto a land space that is not more than 300 square meters in the same state and you want the police to protect you, to service that right of property, I am afraid you have to pay for every square meter that you occupy.

    “Our population will continue to grow. You do not need rocket scientist to tell you that over time, when the space of land remain constant and we are populating it with more and more people, there will be crisis of access to land. Therefore, it is sensible to make public policy expensive for people who have appetite for excessive land space to pay for it. That is the philosophy behind the Land Use Charge.”

     

     

  • Ambode pledges better working conditions for judicial workers

    Ambode pledges better working conditions for judicial workers

    lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured that his administration will continue to improve on the achievements in the judiciary.

    He also promised that the provision of a conducive environment for judges, magistrates and the courts in the state would be sustained.

    The governor, who spoke at the 2015/2016 Legal Year dinner held at the Nigeria Law School, Lagos at the weekend, reiterated the important role the judiciary plays as the last hope of the common man, stressing that the reforms carried out by the previous administrations will be improved upon.

    Noting that the Lagos State judiciary has been the pioneer of judicial sector reforms in the country from 1999, the governor said: “It was these reforms that gave birth to the Office of Public Defender, Citizens Mediation Centre, Public Advisory Centre, the multi Door court House System, which offers an alternative and effective dispute resolution mechanism, the construction of more Courts as well as the appointment of more Magistrates and Judges.

    “These initiatives have expanded the frontier of justice delivery, which has deepened its relevance as the last hope of the common man. I am committed to ensuring that this administration continue with these reforms. We will work with the judiciary to move our justice sector to a higher level. The reforms process is not a finished business; it is a work in progress.”

     

    The governor also used the occasion to assure that his administration will continue to improve the living conditions of the people of the state, while also protecting their rights and dignity.

    Earlier in her opening address, the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Funmilola Atilade, expressed concerns that the state judiciary is still financially subservient to the Ministry of Justice, saying this development clearly negates relevant laws and constitutional provisions.

  • Court restrains Edo from sacking striking judicial workers

    Court restrains Edo from sacking striking judicial workers

    The National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has restrained the Edo State government from terminating the appointment of members of the state’s Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) pending the hearing on notice.

    Courts in the state have been closed since January when JUSUN members embarked on an indefinite strike over non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    Also restrained were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and the Judicial Service Commission.

    Justice A.N. Ubaka restrained the respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents or privies from terminating the appointments and advertising the positions of the claimants after entertaining hearings from Uhunmwangho D.A. from Olayiwola Afolabi’s chamber.

    Justice Ubaka also barred the respondents from filling the JUSUN members positions on account of the ongoing industrial action embarked upon pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    The judge further ordered that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants are hereby restrained from carrying out anything that will lead to the termination of the appointment of the claimant/applicant’s members or advertise their position and or fill same on account of the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the claimant/applicant’s members pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction filed in this case”.

    The case was adjourned to June 23.

    Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Issac Sanu, had in a statement, ordered all judiciary workers in the state to report for duty on June 10 or faced dismissal.

    Over 3000 persons have filled recruitment forms into the state judiciary.

  • CJN to extend anti-corruption effort to non-judges

    CJN to extend anti-corruption effort to non-judges

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, has pledged to extend the ongoing sanitisation process in the judiciary beyond judicial officers, to include court support staff.

    The CJN warned court support staff to desist from unethical and corrupt conduct because she will not hesitate to punish anyone found wanting.

    She urged them to abide by the code of conduct for court employees.

    Justice Mukhtar spoke in Abuja on Monday at the opening session of a workshop for judicial librarians.

    The workshop, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), had as its theme: “The challenges facing court librarians in information and communication technology age.”

    The CJN also regretted the impact of poor funding on the quality of services rendered by the nation’s court system.

    She called for enhanced funding and continuous human capacity development to enable the nation’s court attain the level of competence and effectiveness experienced in developed climes.

    “Let me quickly add that the fight against corruption in the judiciary is not only targeted at the judicial officers, by also against any staff of the judiciary, who finds luxury or convenience in engaging in corrupt practices or engaged in any other unwholesome conduct.

    “As a judicial staff, you are bound by the code of conduct for court employees. Therefore, if any of you compromises himself or contravenes the code of conduct, he/she will face the full consequences of his or her action.

    “Any judicial staff that works hard and conducts himself well will be rewarded, but deviant, fraudulent and indolent ones may become irrelevant in our drive for a virile judicial system,” the CJN said.

     

     

  • Fashola wants federal judicial workers to end strike

    Fashola wants federal judicial workers to end strike

    Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Tuesday appealed to federal judicial workers to give peace a chance and end their ongoing strike.

    Fashola made the appeal at the inauguration of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) office complex at Ikeja, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the judicial workers had on March 11, began an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS) by the Federal Government.

    “I make an appeal on behalf of litigants and on behalf of people who seek justice that we should quickly put an end to the strike.

    “It does our country no good and does not afford the people access to justice.

    “Whatever the issues may be, I believe that negotiation will make a way for us,’’ Fashola said.

    According to him, the complex, which is dedicated to a former Chief Judge of the state, late Justice Adetunji Adefarasin, is a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to an efficient justice system.

    “It says so many things about the commitment of the Lagos State Government to the support of a strong judiciary as a necessary and indispensable institution for the enthronement and defence of rights in our democracy.’’

    Fashola said that access to justice in the state had also improved, following sittings by its magistrates’ courts on Saturdays.

    Earlier, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, said the improvement in facilities in the sector would ensure quick dispensation of justice.

    “This only goes to show the administration’s commitment to a most effective, efficient and vibrant judiciary, adequately funded and equipped, to meet the growing challenges and dynamism of modern society.’’

     

  • FG, striking judicial workers meet Tuesday

    FG, striking judicial workers meet Tuesday

    …Judgment in Salami’s suit stalled

    The Federal Government and the striking Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) will meet on Tuesday to forge a way forward.

    Members of the union in federal courts and all FCT courts on Monday began an indefinite nationwide strike.

    The strike paralyzed activities at all the courts in Abuja including the Magistrate courts, Shariah court, area courts, the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Workers in the courts were not allowed entry into the court premises by the union leaders.

    Since they could not gain access, staff of the Federal High Court, Abuja, were dismissed around 10am by a senior official.

    The union is aggrieved over the non-implementation of the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure (CONJUSS) since it was agreed in 2009.

    It accused the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of foot-dragging on a supposed circular from the office of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission seeking implementation of the CONJUSS.

    In a telephone interview with The Nation, the JUSUN President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu said the union had exhausted all avenues to get the attention of government with no result.

    He said the 21 day-ultimatum issued had elapsed about 11 days ago with no response from government.

    A source however confirmed to our Correspondent that the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu has invited the union to a meeting on Tuesday.

    The minister is passionate about seeking a lasting solution to the impasse so he has invited the union for discussions.

    Confirming the invitation, Adamu said “it is true we received an invitation from the minister.”

    Asked who and who would be at the meeting, he replied “I don’t know; the minister is in better position because we are only invited.”

    Meanwhile, the judgment in the suit seeking reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami, could not be delivered on Monday due to the strike.