Financial Autonomy: Lawyers blocked at NASS, back striking workers on demands

*Members of the Nigerian Bar Association march in solidarity with the protesting JUSUN workers in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory  

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In pressing home their demands, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have marched to the National Assembly (NASS) Complex in Abuja, FCT, in solidarity with the Judiciary staff currently protesting over the need for financial autonomy for the significant arm of government in the country.

It was gathered there was, however, mild drama Monday, April 19 morning, as security officials locked the gate of the NASS and refused to allow the NBA members gain entrance into the Complex.

The lawyers are on a peaceful march in solidarity with the Judiciary workers who are protesting for financial autonomy.

But the security personnel at the gate, upon sighting the approaching lawyers in their vehicles locked up the two gates to NASS, Channels TV said.

One of the security officers reportedly told the lawyers, that “people like you can’t just be in the National Assembly….”

Some of the protesting JUSUN workers

ConsumerConnect reports members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have commenced a nationwide strike in connection with their demands.

Earlier, the JUSUN workers had converged on the gate of the Court of Appeal in Abuja chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with various descriptions.

Among other demands are the issues of financial autonomy to the Judiciary, and payment of ‘peculiar allowances’ to their members.

It is recalled that JUSUN had since April 6, 2021, left the courts in the country under lock and key because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judicial arm of government.

The union also alleged that the Federal and State governments had over the years, declined to grant financial autonomy to the branch of government, report stated.

Olumide Akpata, President of NBA, Friday, April 16 had directed the Association’s branch chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement the Judiciary’s financial autonomy.

Akpata in a statement also urged the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more like peaceful protests, from this Monday, and on all other subsequent Mondays until the appropriate authorities meet their demand for financial autonomy.

The branch leaders are “to effectively mobilise their members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government houses” to press home the demand, according to the statement.

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