I would’ve persuaded govs but my hands are tied, CJN tells JUSUN over strike

CHIEF Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko, has broken his silence on why he will not persuade governors to meet the demands of workers in the judiciary.

Tanko spoke against the background of a nationwide industrial action commenced by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria yesterday.

The strike followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given by the judiciary workers which elapsed two days ago.

The judiciary workers paralysed court activities nationwide following the refusal of the state governors to comply with the Executive Order 10 which gives financial autonomy to the state judiciary, as well as several court judgements affirming same.

President Buhari had on May 22, 2020 signed into law an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

The Executive Order No. 10 of 2020, made it mandatory for all states to include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

The order also mandates the accountant-general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to the state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state, for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

The union has had running battles with the governors on the interpretation of Section 121 sub section 3 and other sections dwelling on the independence of the judiciary.

Prior to Buhar’s signing of the executive order, JUSUN had in 2014 secured a judgement at the Federal High Court, affirming her position on the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

However, the judgement was neither obeyed nor appealed by the governors.

Consequent upon this, they commenced the strike yesterday, April 6, 2021.

But speaking on the development yesterday Justice Tanko said his position won’t allow him to intervene on the plight of the judiciary workers.

He said this while addressing JUSUN officials at a meeting which was held at the Supreme Court premises yesterday.

Muhammad pleaded with the striking judiciary workers to call off their industrial action.

The JUSUN’s delegation to the meeting, it was gathered, was led by its national treasurer, Jimoh Musa Alonge.

Alonge stood in for JUSUN President, Marwan Adamu, who was reportedly involved in an auto crash while travelling from Kano to Abuja for the parley.

Speaking to the delegation, the CJN said efforts would be made to ensure the states complied with the EO10.

CJN’s media assistant, Ahuraka Isah, in a statement quoted Justice Muhammad as saying he would not be able to persuade the governors to comply with the order because of his position.

He said: “The unintended sufferers of this strike are better imagined than seen. It has spiral effects, including our children, the Federal Judiciary which is a lesser culprit.

“Ordinarily, I would say let me talk to individual 36 state governors, which amount to asking for their favours. But, some of them would ask me to do them favours in return. This is why, as a judge, I am prohibited from asking for favour.”

The statement also quoted Alonge as promising the CJN that his suggestions would be tabled before the JUSUN’s 19-member National Executive Council (NEC) before a decision is taken.

This, he said was because three NEC members attended the meeting with the CJN.

“We have to table the CJN’s fatherly advice before our NEC meeting and consequently get back to his lordship,” the statement quoted Alonge as saying.