BENIN CITY – Judicial activities remained grounded across the state yesterday despite the order given by government to members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to resume work or incur the wrath of government.
The Judiciary workers had since January 5, 2015 embarked on an industrial strike action in Edo State to demand for the autonomy of the third arm of government, following the judgment they got from a court of competent jurisdiction last year.
It would be recalled that government had often acknowledged the enviable position of the Judiciary in a democratic setting and also appealed to the striking workers to return to work, until it threatened to wield its sledge hammer on any worker who failed to resume yesterday.
When The NIGERIAN OBSERVER visited the premises of the Benin High Court along the Benin – Sapele road yesterday morning, workers the under the aegis of JUSUN were seen in large numbers chanting solidarity songs at the entrance of the gate.
The Chairman of JUSUN, Edo State, Comrade Uyi Ogieriakhi told newsmen that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is supreme and sacrosanct.
He said many states in the federation have implemented the judgment and given autonomy to the Judiciary and wondered why Edo State had been held back.
According to him, “we had a meeting with government and some of the issues agreed upon were to be documented but only to hear that government has called off the strike”. We have taken our decision and no going back until we get our autonomy”.
Comrade Ogieriakhi, however, reiterated that the workers are law-abiding citizens who would not be intimidated over their legitimate right, no matter the suffering.
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole
