The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee said it will work with the Nigerian Governors Forum and other related stakeholders to ensure judicial financial autonomy.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Luke Onofiok (PDP-Akwa-Ibom), announced this during a meeting with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Abuja.
Recall that JUSUN started a nationwide indefinite strike on Monday, April 6, 2021, over the failure to enforce judicial financial autonomy as enshrined in the Constitution.
After numerous protests, President Muhammadu Buhari signed an Executive Order giving financial autonomy to the judiciary and the state house of assembly in May 2020.
The order’s gazetting, however, was halted after Buhari consulted with governors, who later voiced concerns about its constitutionality.
Onofiok urged state governors to enforce the provision of the constitution that requires the judiciary to have financial autonomy.
He believes that if all branches of government operate on equal footing, we will have a happier world.
JUSUN’s requests, according to the chairman, are genuine to ensure the integrity of the judiciary.
He did, however, urge the union to begin work at the federal courts after the federal government had agreed to their demands.
He believes that punishing others for the crimes of others is wrong.
“It would result in a safer working atmosphere for judicial officers and judiciary worker, improved staff health, and the ability for judicial officers to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
“To that point, we stand in unity with you in your efforts to ensure that you have financial sovereignty in the judiciary.
“Our only point of disagreement is the totality of the industrial action, also within the federal courts; if the Federal Government has abided by the rules of the Constitution by ensuring that monies intended for the federal judiciary are submitted directly to the National Judicial Council, it is not reasonable for federal judiciary workers to resume the strike.
“I know and am certain that it is still solidarity but let us limit the strike to those who have not complied with this question of financial autonomy,” he said.
Earlier, JUSUN’s Deputy National Chairman, Emmanuel Abioye, said that if the Rule of Law were upheld, the current strike may have been stopped.
According to Abioye, Sections 122 (3), 82 (3), and 262(9) of the 1999 Constitution specifically state that the judiciary has financial autonomy.
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He mentioned that the dispute has been pending since 1999 and that there was a court decision in favour of the union’s claim that had not been carried out in the previous seven years.
“How would the people get justice if the judiciary, which is the only refuge of the poor man, is not independent?”
“Rather than appealing to the union to call off the strike, the people should talk to those who are delaying implementation of the law; we cannot afford to struggle and smile,” he added.
Mr Saidu Adamu, National Assistant Secretary of JUSUN, said that it is sad that when the poor breach the rules, he is forced to dance to the tune, while the wealthy and strong get away with it.
“When I learned the House was welcoming us, I assumed they were going to tell us what they were going to enforce the governors to follow the law.
“If the National Assembly is unable to enforce governors to follow the constitution, they should leave us to do what we can; we are battling for the common man.”
“Give us your help to ensure that the laws you enacted are carried out; I believe the Constitution should be changed to allow the National Assembly to punish erring governors,” he added.
