Report for Duty or Be Sacked, Edo Judicial Commission Tells Striking Workers

Oshiomhole: I won’t succumb to blackmail

The Edo State Judicial Service Commission has orderd members of the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to return to work next week Monday or risk being dismissed from service.

The commission issued the threat barely 48 hours after new members were inaugurated.

Courts in the state have been under lock and key since January 2 this year when the judicial workers embarked on an indefinite strike over lack of financial autonomy to the judiciary.

The threat to sack the striking workers was contained in a press statement signed by secretary to the commission, Isaac Sanu.

Isaac said the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary would have been resolved by the commission but for the stand of JUSUN executive.

He stated that the commission promised the JUSUN executives that the issue of payment of outstanding salaries during the period the strike lasted would be pursued rigorously but the JUSUN executive refused.

According to him, “The judiciary being an important arm of government, it cannot be allowed or shut down indefinitely.

“All members of staff of the Edo State Judiciary should report for duty not later than Monday, 18th of May.”

“Anybody who fails to report as at close of work on Monday should consider himself to have been dismissed from service. Security is assured as nobody would be allowed to be molested by some persons with untoward behaviour.”

But in swift reaction, Edo State Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Uyi Ogierakhi said judicial workers are not bordered by the pronouncement from JSC, adding that the commission did not call the strike and cannot determine how it would be called of.

“We are telling our members to remain resolute; it is a mere threat. We are going to resist this by any means”, he said.

Meanwhile. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has told the state branch of JUSUN that he cannot be blackmailed on their call for financial autonomy for the judiciary, saying he will not surrender the authority of the state to employees who have chosen to use union actions to canvass non-union issues.

Oshiomhole who stated this yesterday during the swearing-in of the Judicial Service Commission at the Government House, Benin City, said “I want to publicly assure you that I am convinced that it is only reasonable and sensible for government to put in place a formula that will guarantee the independence of the judicial officers that he or she can perform his or her duty without fear of the executive and without being at the mercy of the executive. I remain committed to that and I remain committed to ensuring that this is done while I am here and it will be done because we are convinced about it.

However, he said, “I think the state must resist blackmail as a matter of policy. Once blackmail is off the way, we have sufficient goodwill to solve this and other problems and I want to assure my Lord that this government, under my stewardship, will continue to respect the independence of the judiciary. It is not an act of favour, it is what the constitution dictates and it is also what makes sense and myself being a beneficiary of a courageous judiciary, I will do nothing to weaken the capacity of the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour. I ask you to take this for granted, it is unconditional and we will do everything to sustain it.