by Peregba Jerry
In compliance with the nationwide strike action directive to the Judiciary staff union of Nigeria (JUSUN) across the country, courts in Yenagoa Bayelsa state are under lock and key.
Our correspondent who visited the federal high court, state high court of justice, the magistrate court and court of appeal in Yenagoa, reports that some people who were not privy of the strike action were left stranded and turned back by the JUSUN officials who were on ground to enforce the strike action, preventing anyone from gaining access to the court premises.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the JUSUN officials, Mrs Koin Selepriye, said the strike was necessary to compel the government to grant the judiciary practicable Financial Autonomy, pointing out that there is already a court Judgment since 2014 that relieved the Judiciary financial clause from the Executive but till date the Executive is yet to do the needful.
Mrs Selepriye also said that the continuous dependent on the Executive arm for funds has in many cases hampered judgments and threatens the independent of the Judiciary arm of government, stating that if the Judiciary is truly an independent arm of government as enshrine in the constitution, then it has to be financially autonomous as well.
She said, ‘’ The purpose of strike today nationally is for our autonomy and the autonomy as we know did not start today. The Judiciary had a judgment sometime in 2014, were the Judiciary had been relieved from the clause of the Executive, financial clause to speak. But then, since 2014 till date, we are yet to see a practicable autonomy and we thought it wise if the judiciary by the constitution is autonomous, why is it that in practice we are not seeing it?’’, She queried.
‘’It’s making the judiciary every now and then go to the government, the Executive arm to be precise for funds even funds as small as Overhead and Salaries, they all come from the government. In fact they can do anything with our funds which is not right so if the Judiciary is supposed to be a free entity, a free arm as construed in the constitution, I think this strike is very, very necessary,’’ she said
She however, called on anyone who is affected by the strike action to bear with the union, noting that it was needed to have a better working and an independent Judiciary in the country.
Her words, ‘’it is unfortunate that there must be war for there to be peace, it is very unfortunate but that’s the truth in life. For whomever that is, especially our litigants, we want to say bear with us. We are working towards a better judiciary for everybody. By the time we free the Judiciary from influences from outside, you are very sure that you are coming to your last hope so whatever inconvenience we are suffering now, we are trying to make Bayelsa and Nigeria a better place,’’ she said
Recall on Monday 5th April 2021, a statement by JUSUN president, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu directed all courts and departments to be shut until and unless the government does the needful.
