Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) members on Monday kick-started a nationwide protest,to press home their demands for financial autonomy for Judiciary among others.
The union had on April 6, commenced nationwide industrial action, shutting down all courts in the country including the Supreme Court, to protest the refusal of governors to comply with the constitutional provisions for financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
The protest is being led in Abuja by Comrade Jimoh Alonge, the National Treasurer of the union, who vowed they will not back down on the strike and protest until their demands are met.
JUSUN had on Friday threatened to begin a mass peaceful protest.
Alonge, while speaking with journalists at the Court of Appeal headquarters, the take-off point of the protest to the National Assembly, stated that the judiciary is confronted with myriads of problems, but noted that once the issue of financial autonomy is addressed, others would be taken care of.
He accused the governors of Ebonyi and Kaduna States of undermining the judiciary in their states, warning that the judiciary would no longer tolerate such from anyone.
Meanwhile, Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday marched to the National Assembly in solidarity with judiciary workers who are protesting financial autonomy.
This is in response to the directive of the NBA President who had earlier on Friday directed its branch chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement judiciary’s financial autonomy.
