BENIN CITY….The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), a non-governmental, non-political organisation has waded into the six-months-old face off between the Edo State Government and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) with an appeal to both the parties to allow the mediation efforts of ANEEJ to succeed in the interest of the general public and those who depend on the courts for their livelihoods.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor made the appeal yesterday while speaking with the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Henry Idahagbon and Executive members of JUSUN led by its Chairman, Comrade Uyi Ogieriakhi at separate meetings in Benin yesterday,
Ugolor said it was unacceptable for courts in Edo State to be shut down for over six months for whatever reasons, noting that the round table option, under the current circumstances was an imperative.
“I am a victim of bad police system and if not for the courts, I would perhaps have been ruined by evil doers, so the courts which are the only hope for people to seek justice cannot be shut down in a progressive state like Edo,” Rev. Ugolor told both parties yesterday.
Commissioner Idahagbon told the ANEEJ team in his office that the Edo State Government has over time been open for negotiation with the JUSUN leadership in so far they opened the courts and allow dialogue to continue. Idahagbon said despite several flaws associated with the strike action, he made several efforts to resolve the issues with JUSUN leadership , but regretted that all such efforts were rebuffed.
Idahagbon said the State Government is already implementing the Judiciary autonomy and is already taking steps to ensure its sustenance, but lamented that JUSUN blew several opportunities he created to resolve the impasse at the early stage.
At a meeting with JUSUN Executives yesterday, Rev. Ugolor told the striking workers that ANEEJ’s interest was to get both the workers and government on the negotiation table and get the issues resolved as a “win win” for both parties, so that in the end, there will be no victor, no vanquished.
He told the workers to be ready to shift grounds as the ANEEJ team make progress with its mediation effort.
Chairman of JUSUN, Edo State, Comrade Uyi Ogieriakhi assured the ANEEJ team of their willingness to be on the table and end the strike, provided government enters into an agreement with them going forward.
ANEEJ drew up a list of stakeholders from both meetings who would also be consulted and approached in the next days to bring a quick end to the feud to include: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State; the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Edo State; The Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque; Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabulele, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom; Chief David Edebiri; the Catholic Archbishop of Benin among others and the Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, Margaret Idahosa.
All of these would precede a meeting with the Edo State Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
