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Tag: Judicial workers

  • Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade has approved 100 per cent increment in salaries and welfare package of the state’s Judicial workers.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar.

    According to the statement, Ayade made the announcement during the swearing-in of the new President of Cross River Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Anjor Mbe.

    He said that the new salary regime with effective from August 1, 2022, the state’s High Court judges salaries will be increased by 100 per cent.

    “Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal will also have their salaries increased by 100 per cent while those of Magistrates will be increased by 50 per cent, ” he stated

    He also announced the immediate recruitment of 500 workers in the ministry of Justice for the first phase.

    Similarly, the governor also granted all judicial officers in the state immediate land allocation.

    He expressed optimism that he had addressed the immediate challenges of the state judiciary.

    “As a matter of state government’s policy, any judicial officer sworn-in will have his or her official car ready for delivery.

    “We have witnessed massive vacancy in the Ministry of Justice occasioned by retirement.

    “To this effect, we have approved for the Chief Judge with the support of the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission, the employment of 500 workers in the Ministry of Justice for the first phase alone.”

    He disclosed that his administration had equally approved the setting aside of 25 per cent of the gross emoluments to support judicial officers’ allowances.

    He said that the allowances covered vacation, travels, among others.

    Ayade pledged his administration’s readiness to support Judicial arm of government as the need arose.

    He said he acted in concert with the report of the State Judicial Welfare Review Committee set up in April.

    The Committee which had retired Justice Eyo Ita as Chairman, was charged with reviewing the salaries of Cross River judicial officers.

    “For our judicial officers, we know the challenges of this country, for Cross River State in particular, we are quite sensitive to all the concerns raised so far.

    “That is why we set up a committee to review the conditions of service of judicial officers to make for better service delivery.

    “So having studied the report of the committee and in order to enhance service delivery, Cross River State Government has hereby handsomely reviewed their salaries and welfare.”

    He commended the state Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, “for her diplomatic, studious and consistent push in achieving these goals,” he stated.

  • BREAKING: Judicial workers suspend two-month strike

    BREAKING: Judicial workers suspend two-month strike

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has resolved to suspend its over two-month strike, effective from Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that JUSUN took the decision at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which just ended in Abuja.

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) had, at a meeting with JUSUN leaders on Tuesday, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad in attendance, urged the striking court workers to put an end to the industrial action in the interest of the country and the suffering court users.

  • Financial autonomy: Why I can’t fault your action, CJN backs striking judicial workers

    Financial autonomy: Why I can’t fault your action, CJN backs striking judicial workers

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad has noted the decision by court workers nationwide embark on strike to press for financial autonomy for the Judiciary was justified.

    “I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

    “I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,’’ the CJN was quoted as saying after a meeting on Wednesday with leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in his office in Abuja.

    The Media Aide to the CJN, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, said in a statement on Thursday, that Justice Muhammad spoke after hearing from some leaders of JUSUN who explained why they would sustain the strike until state governments take concrete steps on the issue.

    Part of the statement reads: “The national officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) met with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Wednesday ostensibly to give him a feedback on his recent demand on the union to call-off the ongoing strike.

    “The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hadjia Hadiza Uwani Mustapha also attended the meeting held in the CJN chambers at the Supreme Court.

    “The CJN had, at an earlier meeting with JUSUN leaders on April 6, asked the union to call-off the strike in view of its adverse effect on the justice system in the country.

    “But at the meeting of Wednesday, the JUSUN officials, led by its Deputy National President, Emmanuel Abioye and Jimoh Musa Alonge (Treasurer) explained why the union found it difficult to heed the CJN’s demand to call off the strike.

    “Abiyoye told the CJN that the state governors must begin to demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place some measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for judiciary in their respective states.

    “Abioye said: ‘Though there’s financial autonomy for the judiciary already in some states while some are assuring that they would comply, but others have to take steps in readiness for compliance.’

    “According to Abioye, the union expects each state to start implementing its self-accounting law to deal with the Internally Generated Revenue in line with Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and that states without such law should put it in place.

    “Abioye said it is his union’s position that there must be some level of seriousness from all quarters and as such, the amount standing to the credit of the judiciary from the monthly federal allocation should be deducted directly from the source by the Accountant General of the Federation and remit same to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for onward transmission to heads of courts.

    “However, the CJN said it has become difficult to fault the idea of the strike since the rights of the union and its members which are clearly defined in the Constitution are being denied especially at state level.

    ‘I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the Constitution. I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,’ the CJN said.”

  • Judiciary workers stage walkout from meeting with FG as minister fails to show up

    Judiciary workers stage walkout from meeting with FG as minister fails to show up

    Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Tuesday staged a walkout from the reconciliation meeting with the Federal Government and representatives of the State Governors.

    The striking judiciary workers staged their walkout after waiting for over an hour at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, where the failed meeting was to be held.

    The workers, who sang solidarity songs as they left the conference room, refused to listen to pleas from the Permanent Secretary who informed them that the Minister was holding a meeting with the government team in his office.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the failed meeting is the second in the series of meetings scheduled with the Labour Minister and aimed at resolving the impasse between the government and the judiciary workers, who are demanding autonomy for the judiciary.

    On Monday, security officials at the National Assembly had refused to allow members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to gain entrance during a protest

    The lawyers had been on a peaceful march in solidarity with judiciary workers who are protesting financial autonomy.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it will ensure the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and judiciary institutions by May 2021.

    Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the assurance after a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the Statehouse on Monday.

    He maintained that the Governors forum has never been opposed to the issue of financial autonomy and that the governors, the speakers, and judges are on the same page.

    He further disclosed that upon emerging from a meeting with the Solicitor-General of the Federation, the representatives of the judiciary, the representatives of the Conference of Speakers, and the House of Representatives, an agreement has been reached to implement the agreement no later than May.

  • Judicial workers pick date for nationwide peaceful protest

    Judicial workers pick date for nationwide peaceful protest

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) says it will hold a nationwide peaceful protest on April 19 to further push home its demand for financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    The threat was contained in a circular obtained in Lagos, dated April 16 and signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Union, Mr P. Nnamani.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that JUSUN on April 6, commenced a nationwide industrial action, calling for implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    While restating that the strike would continue following failure by government to meet its demands, the union urged its members to remain resolute in spite of pressures.

    The circular read in part:

    “Further be informed that following an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of JUSUN on the April 15, 2021,

    “it is agreed that the union will organise a peaceful protest in the Federal Capital, which will be replicated in the 36 state Capitals in furtherance of our agitations, from April 19, 2021.

    “Please note that if in case there are any invitations for negotiations/talks, you should promptly inform the National Headquarters for guidelines and representations to avoid disorder in presentation of facts.”