Strike paralyses court activities in Lagos

Court activities were paralysed in Lagos on Monday as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria
 (JUSUN) began its nationwide strike.
However, some staff members of the Federal High Court in Lagos had resumed work. Some said
 they were not aware of the strike.
A registrar told our correspondent that he was not aware if he was supposed to stay off work.
But the court eventually shut down when it became obvious that JUSUN meant business.

The court’s Deputy Chief Registrar, Mr. Bello Okandeji, permitted workers to return home in line with JUSUN’s directive.
The judiciary workers’ body had directed all its members to embark on the strike action as from January 2.
JUSUN president, Mr. Marwan Adamu, had earlier confirmed that the strike would not be shelved.
The union National Deputy President, Comrade Samuel Adesanya, told reporters on Monday that the strike began on January 2 as scheduled, despite the public holidays.
JUSUN resumed the strike because various stakeholders had flouted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which it was agreed that financial autonomy for the judiciary, as ordered by an Abuja Federal High Court on March 13, last year, would be given effect from last month.
It was reportedly agreed in the MoU that as from the next meeting of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, the judgment would be complied with.
In line with the judgment, the Accountant-General of the Federation is to deduct the amounts standing to the credit of the states’ judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund and remit the funds to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for onward disbursement to the heads of the various courts.
Adesanya said the industrial action affects all courts in the country, and would only be resolved if the union’s demands were met.
An executive of the Lagos branch of JUSUN, Mr. Adelenu Tajudeen, said the strike action was simply in a bid to press home their demands, adding that the court gates would remain under lock till further notice.
Court activities at the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Ikoyi were also paralysed as workers stayed off.
Those who reported for work later returned home.
State governments are said to have failed to implement the court orders which granted financial autonomy for state judiciaries.
It was learnt that Chief Judges were reluctant to give their nod to full implementation of the MoU to avoid confrontation with their state governors.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court had restrained the Federal Government and the 36 state governors from holding on to funds meant for the judiciary.
Ademola held that funds should be disbursed directly to the heads of court and not to the executive arm of government.
 The Nation