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The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary said it will engage the Nigerian Governor’s Forum and relevant stakeholders to ensure judicial financial autonomy.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Luke Onofiok, made this known during a meeting with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Abuja.
JUSUN commenced a nationwide strike on Monday, April 6 over non-implementation of judicial financial autonomy as enshrined in the Constitution.
President Muhammadu Buhari had signed an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and state house of assembly in May 2020, after several agitations.
However, the gazetting of the order was suspended after Buhari met with governors, who later expressed concern over its constitutionality.
Onofiok appealed to state governors to implement the section of the constitution that demands financial autonomy for the judiciary.
According to him, if we have all the arms of government operating on equal footing, we are going to have a better society.
The chairman described JUSUN’s demands as genuine to guarantee the independence of the judiciary.
He however appealed to the union to resume work at the federal courts as the Federal Government has complied with their demands.
According to him, it is not good to punish others for the sins of other people.
“It will lead to better working environment for judicial officers and staff of the judiciary, better staff welfare and enable judicial officers to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
“To that extent, we are in solidarity with you on the agitations you are making to make sure that you have financial autonomy at the judiciary.
“Our only point of divergence is the totality of the industrial action even within the federal court; if the Federal government has abided by the provisions of the Constitution in making sure that monies meant for federal judiciary is sent straight to the National Judicial Council, it is not fair for staff of the federal judiciary to continue with the strike.
“I know and sure it is solidarity forever, but let us narrow the strike to those who have not complied with this issue of financial autonomy,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy National Chairman of JUSUN, Mr Emmenuel Abioye, said that the ongoing strike could have been avoided if the Rule of Law is respected.
Abioye said that Sections 122 (3), 82(3), 262(9) of the 1999 Constitution clearly speaks for financial autonomy for the judiciary.
He said that issue had been ongoing since 1999 and that there is court judgment in favour of the union’s position which had not been executed in the past seven years.
[…] restating that the strike would continue following failure by the government to meet its demands, the union urged its members to remain resolute in spite of […]