A four hours meeting on Monday between the Federal Government and Judiciary staff union of Nigeria, JUSUN failed to force the workers to suspend one week old strike, but agreed to reconvene on Thursday.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Who presided over the conciliatory meeting appealed to JUSUN to return to work, as they are like doctors and nurses,that are on essential duties.
The minister said after waiting for an in-house conciliation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria and since progress was not made, the ministry decided to exercise its mandate as a mediator between employers and workers.
Ngige said the Executive Order 10 and its application, granting autonomy to the Judiciary which is topmost on JUSUN demands will be tackled, because it is a constitutional issue.
President of JUSUN, Marwan Mustafa said they were guided by the Constitution of the country in their action , stressing that democracy has to thrive on the Rule of Law.
Mustafa said the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a Federation and is guided by a Constitution, he however observed that the particular provision of the constitution that grants financial autonomy to the judiciary has never been obeyed as much as it should be, particularly Section 21(3) and Section 81(3).
Marwan said Having agitated for so long for the needful to be done and nothing came of it , the workers went to court and got a judgment before 2014 and has remained patient since an earlier strike in 2015.
Also Read: Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Niger State Chapter joins nationwide strike
Also at the meeting were the representatives of the Solicitor General of Nigeria, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Eta Enang.
(Editor: Abaje Usewke
