The Nigerian Court Staff Union (JUSUN) announced on Friday that states have failed to fully comply with the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Mr Isaiah Adetola, JUSUN’s National Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that there had been no notable implementation of the financial autonomy since the union terminated its strike in June.
According to NAN, the union went on strike on April 6 to argue for the introduction of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
The union terminated the 64-day strike on June 9 after dialogue and interventions from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, with the understanding that state governments would commence implementation.
Many states, however, have not cooperated, according to Adetola.
“The progress report is not encouraging; some governors signed the Funds Management Law and many states are yet to do anything at all.
“Some state assemblies passed it to their governors for assent, while many have not; so, the news is not encouraging.
“Even those that have signed the bill into law, have not begun implementation.
“Industrial relation matters are not to be delayed,” he said.
The JUSUN National Executive Committee, he claims, will convene and decide on the next course of action.
According to NAN, President Muhammadu Buhari issued an executive order on May 22, 2020, extending budgetary autonomy to the legislature and courts in all 36 states of the federation.
Each state must include allocations to its legislative and judiciary in its first-line charge of the budget, according to Executive Order No. 10 of 2020.
The order also required the federation’s accountant-general to withhold monies owing to state legislatures and judiciaries from each state’s monthly allotment — for states that refuse to give autonomy.
The union went on strike on April 6 in order to press for the realization of judicial financial autonomy, as established by the ruling.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
