President Muhammadu Buhari has weighed in on the ongoing strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) by directing his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari and Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, to address the grievances of the judiciary workers and put an end to the industrial action.
The president’s directive is coming almost three weeks after members of JUSUN shut down courts across the Federation to register their grievances over the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Buhari gave the directive after meeting with Ngige and other stakeholders on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
After deliberations, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) finally agreed to implement autonomy for state legislature and judiciary, with effect from May 2021.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ngige said he presented the demands of various unions before the president.
“We reviewed what has been done. The chief of staff did what we call in labour parlance ‘tripartite plus arrangement’, by engaging them. Both parties conceded — Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the heads of courts, state judges, the unions, and the presidential implementation committee for executive order 10 led by the attorney-general, but standing in for him by the solicitor-general of the federation and permanent secretary,” he said.
The minister continued, “As the conciliator, when they presented the two papers, one from the solicitor-general and another one from the director-general (DG) of the NGF, I had to tell them that we have to reconcile those papers because the areas that they differ are very fundamental areas in terms of the execution of Sections 83 and 162.
“We need the governors to touch this among themselves and come back because, in consultation, I receive documents, issues from the unions, and the NBA, and even the representative of the heads of courts on one side, and then from these government people of NGF, and the solicitor-general of the federation representing attorney-general.
“So, if the government papers are not on the same page, then the discussion will be very difficult and fruitless. So, that is where we are.
“As I finish from here, I’m going to do another meeting with the chief of staff so that we can make a move. The president has directed that we meet and study the situation so that we can advise the government side on what is best for the situation.”
The minister added that the prolonged strike will have negative effects on the country’s justice system.
“Nobody is happy that the courts are closed. There are grievous implications for the country if suspects cannot be taken to court for them to be remanded or put on bail,” he added.
“So, it is a very congruous situation for us. So, this is the main issue I briefed the president on and some assignments. Others are sundry issues that pertain to my ministry and parastatals which I am already handling. I just have to report back to him where we are.”
