The Federal Government has directed members of the striking Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria(PASAN) to re-open all courts and state Houses of Assembly so that the May 20 Memorandum of Action (MOA) signed by all parties, and further reinforced by another meeting on implementation of timelines on June 4, can take effect.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, decried the situation where the courts and the Houses of Assembly are still shut down across the federation for no cogent reasons of non-adherence to provisions of the May 20 MOA which has 45 days implementation window.
“The Federal Government has sadly noted that the MoA between all stakeholders involved in the JUSUN, PASAN strike, mainly JUSUN, PASAN, Governors’ Forum and Presidential Implementation Committee is yet to take effect because of non-compliance by parties.
“We note that the strike has not been called off as of noon, today, June 8, leading to courts and various state Houses of Assembly still remaining under lock and key contrary to the promise made by the two unions at a further dialogue which was attended by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress. Unfortunately, all federal courts have remained closed notwithstanding the fact that the federal level of government operates a financial autonomy of the judiciary through the National Judicial Council (NJC) and National Assembly through the statutory transfer lines.”
Ngige said many governors are desirous that state Assemblies be opened so that they could enact laws meant to give effect to the autonomy as enshrined in the MOA .
“We have advised all state governors that have consulted with their heads of judiciary and legislature to go ahead and credit the accounts of judiciary and legislature before fine-tuning the laws. We are worried and therefore wish to appeal for the last time to all parties involved in the signed agreement to abide by its spirit and letters, by firstly re-opening all courts the state Houses of Assembly so that all other ingredients in the MOA can be given full compliance by all parties concerned. This much was agreed to between JUSUN, PASSAN and the governors forum at the last meeting on Friday, June 4, 2021.”
The minister noted that with the courts closed , the police and other security agencies cannot prosecute criminals, hoodlums and bandits even as the nation is faced with heightened insecurity.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.