Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has summoned another meeting with officials of the striking Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

The PUNCH learnt on Thursday that the fresh meeting with the JUSUN leadership and other stakeholders would hold at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Secretary to the Federation by 5.30pm on Monday.

The workers’ strike, which has grounded activities in the nation’s judiciary at all levels since January 5, will enter its third week on Monday.

Some of those invited for the meeting are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke; Supervising Minister for Labour and Productivity, Kabir Turaki, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Turaki, along with other stakeholders had met with the JUSUN officers on January 7, two days after the lingering strike started.

But the representatives of the workers had left the meeting with a resolve to continue the strike until its demand was met.

The workers are demanding the implementation of a January 13, 2014 judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered a prompt compliance with constitutional provisions on the financial autonomy status of the judiciary.

The SGF, in a letter dated January 14, 2015 which he personally signed, said a fresh meeting with the striking workers was necessary “in view of the likely consequences of continuous closure of courts on our nascent democracy.”

“It is resolved that crucial meetings of all critical stakeholders be convened to find a lasting solution to all the issues in contention,” Anyim stated.

Others who were invited to the meeting included the leadership and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla and the Attorneys-General of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, along with the leadership and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar.

The judgment which JUSUN is agitating for its implementation had ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation to be deducting funds standing to the credit of the judiciary and disburse directly to the various heads of court.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola on January 13, 2014.

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