The Ondo State Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Gbenga Akinbuli, says the ongoing Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike was caused by the state government’s disregard for their financial autonomy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN in Ondo State commenced an indefinite strike on June 13.
Akinbuli, in a statement signed by him and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Akure, blamed the state Attorney General, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, for failing to advise the government accordingly.
The chairman, also a prominent lawyer, said the state government’s disregard for the accord granting financial autonomy to the judiciary caused the strike.
“Ajulo should have ensured that the rule of law was upheld. The action of the state government, their lack of commitment to upholding the rule of law, can be described as authoritarian tendencies.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ajulo should not have allowed the situation to degenerate.
“His silence and inaction in the face of this crisis is a betrayal of the legal profession and a clear indication of complicity in the state’s anti-judiciary agenda.
“The government needs to be held accountable for their actions, disregard for the judiciary’s autonomy and the rule of law is a threat to democracy.
“Judicial autonomy is a constitutional matter, not a subject of negotiation,” he said.
Akinbuli, however, appealed to JUSUN Ondo leadership to reconsider their decision to embark on an indefinite strike, citing the potential consequences for the common man and litigants.
”The Ondo State Government must show respect for the rule of law. The continued closure of the courts is a direct attack on democracy and a denial of justice for ordinary citizens.
“The people of Ondo State deserve better, and it’s time for the government to prioritize the effective functioning of the judiciary,” Akinbuli concluded.
Responding to the statement, Mr Oluwafemi Lawson, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, said the governor was committed to the upliftment and transformation of the judiciary in the state.
According to Lawson, politics must be separated from the complex nature of the events that led to the strike by members of JUSUN.
“The current situation stems from contentions around the implementation of financial autonomy, a policy area that, while constitutionally affirmed, still requires coordinated frameworks between arms of government.
“It is not a simple matter of wishful declarations or blame allocation.
“The attorney general has been actively involved in consultations and negotiations, going as far as proposing meetings at the JUSUN Secretariat or other locations convenient for the workers,” he said.
(NAN)
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