Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra State
chapter, on Monday resumed its strike.
Before 8am, officials of the union had barricaded
the entrance to the state judiciary complex in
Awka, the state capital, and locked out users of the
premises.
Among those locked out were judges of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal holding their sittings at the complex.
Litigants and lawyers were seen outside the court compound discussing the development.
The judiciary workers in the state suspended their strike in March after an agreement with the state government to pay them their demands accordingly.
But the workers, in a communique, said government had reneged on the agreement it had with the union and that they had no option than to embark on strike again.
A lawyer, Okili Akirika, who spoke with our corespondent at the judiciary complex on Monday, condemned government’s attitude to the agreement it had with the workers.
He said, “Every responsible government is under legal and moral duty to make sure that legitimate agreements are honoured and kept. “Now that JUSUN is being compelled by circumstances beyond its control to resort to resumption of the strike because government failed, refused or neglected to comply with its own side of the agreement, that shows irresponsibility on the part of government.
“Anambra state government should rise up to its social and legal obligations.
It becomes more worrisome when it is realised that it is even a judiciary pronouncement on the autonomy or independence of the judiciary that has led to this strike.
“Why can’t a court action, court ruling or judgment be obeyed and respected?”
Among those locked out were judges of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal holding their sittings at the complex.
Litigants and lawyers were seen outside the court compound discussing the development.
The judiciary workers in the state suspended their strike in March after an agreement with the state government to pay them their demands accordingly.
But the workers, in a communique, said government had reneged on the agreement it had with the union and that they had no option than to embark on strike again.
A lawyer, Okili Akirika, who spoke with our corespondent at the judiciary complex on Monday, condemned government’s attitude to the agreement it had with the workers.
He said, “Every responsible government is under legal and moral duty to make sure that legitimate agreements are honoured and kept. “Now that JUSUN is being compelled by circumstances beyond its control to resort to resumption of the strike because government failed, refused or neglected to comply with its own side of the agreement, that shows irresponsibility on the part of government.
“Anambra state government should rise up to its social and legal obligations.
It becomes more worrisome when it is realised that it is even a judiciary pronouncement on the autonomy or independence of the judiciary that has led to this strike.
“Why can’t a court action, court ruling or judgment be obeyed and respected?”
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