Leaders of striking judicial workers met yesterday in Abuja and resolved to sustain their action.
The decision was taken at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the workers’ umbrella body – the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The union’s President Comrade Marwan Adamu said the union decided to continue the strike because the previous meeting at the instance of Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Wogu, the National Judicial Council, the Accountant-General of the Federation and other stakeholders, ended in a deadlock.
But court workers in Abuja were unhappy over the development.
They noted that the sustenance of the strike would deny them access to their salaries and the funds to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri next week.
Some court workers at the Federal High Court headquarters, the Court of Appeal headquarters and the Supreme Court (all in Abuja) told our correspondent that the decision of the JUSUN NEC was anti-Islam. They said it was capable of dividing the JUSUN leaders, if Muslims were denied the opportunity to earn their salary to celebrate the Sallah.
Majority of those who spoke with our correspondent queried the rationale behind a strike when the courts had begun their annual vacation.
“The courts are all on vacation. I do not understand the reason behind a strike that was delayed until the commencement of the vacation season. Those behind the strike are just out to punish the ordinary court workers.
“The fiscal autonomy, if granted, will benefit the judicial officers the more. But yet they have been allowed to go on vacation, but the junior workers are now denied the opportunity of accessing our salaries. I just hope they call off the strike before weekend, else we will oppose their actions,” a senior court official at the Supreme Court, who spoke in confidence, said.
JUSUN’s NEC, in the communique after its special emergency meeting yesterday at the Labour House in the Central Business Area of Abuja, resolved to sustain strike, pending when the Executive would agree to implementation the January 13, 2014 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The court granted fiscal autonomy to the Judiciary.
The union urged the Accountant-General of the Federation and other stakeholders to comply with the court order to save the Judiciary.
In the communique, jointly signed by its National President, Comrade Adamu and General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, directed its branches and to remain on strike until all issues are fully resolved.
The communique reads: “The NEC in session condemns the antics of persons working towards frustrating the effort of the union and call on them to desist from such action forthwith.
“NEC in session commends the National Executive Committee and all members for their commitment, steadfastness and solidarity.”
On the union’s strike in Rivers State before the nationwide strike, JUSUN urged its members in the state to be resolute.
It advised them not to relent until the parties to the disagreement between the state government and the National Judicial Council (NJC), over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge in the state, was resolved.
