The Federal Government and the
various state governments across the
nation have finally agreed to start
funding the nation’s judiciary as
prescribed by the Constitution.
This was the outcome of relentless
agitations by the leadership of
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and
the subsequent agreement reached
with the union last Thursday.
The union had threatened to resume
its nationwide strike if the judgment of
a Federal High Court in Abuja, which
on January 13, 2014, ordered
compliance with the constitutional
provision, was not implemented.
The judiciary workers had on July 11
gone on a three-week strike which
was suspended after various
concerned government functionaries
and other stakeholders in the judiciary
promised to ensure the
implementation of the judgment.
Therefore, with the agreement now
reached, from December, funds
standing to the credit of the federal
and the respective state judiciaries in
the budgets would be deducted by the
Accountant General of the Federation
and remitted to the National Judicial
Council.
The NJC will then disburse the funds
to the various heads of courts.
This development was confirmed in a
statement by the NJC, through its
Acting Director (Information), Mr. Soji
Oye.
The statement read in part, “The
Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria
has called off its strike proposed to
commece from Monday, December 1,
2015.
“The agreement to shelve the strike
was reached on November 27, 2014 at
the end of the meeting chaired by the
Supervising Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu
Turaki (SAN), the leadership of the
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and
other relevant Stakeholders.
“The bone of contention had been the
implementation of the subsisting
judgment of the Federal High Court
delivered on January 13, 2014
regarding Sections 81 (3), 121 (3) and
162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended).
“The stakeholders on November 27
reconciled the figures submitted by
JUSUN with the budgeted estimates
by the States Accountants-General
and concluded that the Accountant-
General of the Federation will make
deductions during the next Federal
Accounts Allocation Committee
meeting to the National Judicial
Council in line with the Court
Judgment on actual funds released
that can be defended by the respective
States and duly concurred by JUSUN.
“A Memorandum of Understanding was
signed by the Stakeholders to the
effect.”
In reaction to the development, the
Nigerian Bar Association commended
the JUSUN leadership for suspending
the strike.
President of the association in a
statement said also praised the new
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Mahmud Mohammed for his personal
efforts in ensuring that the strike was
averted.
Alegeh added, “We hope that all
concerned Governments will respect
these constitutional provisions as any
strike action leading to the closure of
our courts during the period of
political party primaries and/or the
2015 general elections would
adversely affect the entire electoral
process and the foundations of our
democracy.”
various state governments across the
nation have finally agreed to start
funding the nation’s judiciary as
prescribed by the Constitution.
This was the outcome of relentless
agitations by the leadership of
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and
the subsequent agreement reached
with the union last Thursday.
The union had threatened to resume
its nationwide strike if the judgment of
a Federal High Court in Abuja, which
on January 13, 2014, ordered
compliance with the constitutional
provision, was not implemented.
The judiciary workers had on July 11
gone on a three-week strike which
was suspended after various
concerned government functionaries
and other stakeholders in the judiciary
promised to ensure the
implementation of the judgment.
Therefore, with the agreement now
reached, from December, funds
standing to the credit of the federal
and the respective state judiciaries in
the budgets would be deducted by the
Accountant General of the Federation
and remitted to the National Judicial
Council.
The NJC will then disburse the funds
to the various heads of courts.
This development was confirmed in a
statement by the NJC, through its
Acting Director (Information), Mr. Soji
Oye.
The statement read in part, “The
Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria
has called off its strike proposed to
commece from Monday, December 1,
2015.
“The agreement to shelve the strike
was reached on November 27, 2014 at
the end of the meeting chaired by the
Supervising Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu
Turaki (SAN), the leadership of the
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and
other relevant Stakeholders.
“The bone of contention had been the
implementation of the subsisting
judgment of the Federal High Court
delivered on January 13, 2014
regarding Sections 81 (3), 121 (3) and
162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended).
“The stakeholders on November 27
reconciled the figures submitted by
JUSUN with the budgeted estimates
by the States Accountants-General
and concluded that the Accountant-
General of the Federation will make
deductions during the next Federal
Accounts Allocation Committee
meeting to the National Judicial
Council in line with the Court
Judgment on actual funds released
that can be defended by the respective
States and duly concurred by JUSUN.
“A Memorandum of Understanding was
signed by the Stakeholders to the
effect.”
In reaction to the development, the
Nigerian Bar Association commended
the JUSUN leadership for suspending
the strike.
President of the association in a
statement said also praised the new
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Mahmud Mohammed for his personal
efforts in ensuring that the strike was
averted.
Alegeh added, “We hope that all
concerned Governments will respect
these constitutional provisions as any
strike action leading to the closure of
our courts during the period of
political party primaries and/or the
2015 general elections would
adversely affect the entire electoral
process and the foundations of our
democracy.”
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