Tina Amanda
Rivers State Branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN has joined the nationwide indefinite strike, for the non-implementation of judiciary financial autonomy signed by president Muhammad Buhari.
The Union shutdown all court activities even as entrances leading into the court premises were under lock and key.
In an interview with our correspondent, State Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, said government do not have right to choose what section of law to implement or ignore, noting that Labour may decide to shut down the entire work force.
“We are all aware it is contained in the constitution that the executive, judiciary and parliamentary arms of government all have their independence, but they have been blocking that of the Judiciary and parliamentary. Based on that, the Labour Union being the vehicle that drive democracy decided to hold a nation wide strike.
“We were told that the Governor’s Forum are the ones fighting against the judicial and parliamentary autonomy and we are saying no to it because you cannot select the laws you want to implement in the constitution. They all swore to defend the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, why would they want to thwart it?.
“A time will come when the entire work force will shut down because of this issue and then they will be serious about it. We are not begging, it is what is contained in the constitution, neither are we happy blocking anywhere”
She called on judiciary staff to be resilient as what they are fighting for is their constitutional right.
On his part, Rivers State Chairman Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Comrade Anthony Wachukwu, emphasized that it is government failure to obey the provisions of the federal republic of Nigeria constitution as amended 1999 in section 121, Subsection 3, that caused the strike action.
“We are carrying out national directives, not only in State Judiciary. In Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, our members have withdrew their services. It is non obedience to the constitution that have affected the judicial process.
“The strike is indefinite for now and I am urging all our members to remain at home until the national directs the opposite then we resume”
