GIFT ROBERTS
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in Oyo State have vowed not to end their ongoing strike until their demands are met.
JUSUN and PASAN made this known during a peaceful protest they jointly organised on Thursday in Ibadan to further buttress their demands. They carried placards with various inscriptions.
According to the Oyo State JUSUN Chairman, Kayode Martins, the financial autonomy being requested would enable the judiciary to function effectively without any interference from the executive arm.
He also said the autonomy would ensure checks and balances among the arms of government and democracy would have its stronghold in Nigeria.
He said, “What we are asking for does not only affect the Judiciary and legislative arms but affect the whole society.
“If anything goes wrong, you run to the Judiciary being the last hope of the common man. If the judiciary does not have autonomy, it will be difficult to change the wrongs in the society and as well challenge some policies of the executive.”
Martins further called on the state governors to uphold the constitution and do the right thing by granting their autonomy.
Similarly, the Oyo State PASAN Chairman, Mr Yemi Alade, in his address said the association wants the agreement reached with the governors to be documented.
Alade said that the strike would continue until their demands on financial autonomy are met.
“Not until those agreements are met and documented, the strike will continue. What we are fighting for is fundamental and constitutional,” he vowed.
The Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch, Mrs Delayo Orieku, speaking also, said what the legislature and the judiciary are fighting for are their constitutional rights.