Lagos JUSUN suspends strike, resumes duty

The staff of the Lagos state judiciary have been asked to resume operations after a 23-day strike to demand financial autonomy for the judiciary.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had shut all courts across the nation in protest against the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Shobowale Kehinde, JUSUN Lagos chairman, on April 22, said some of its workers in the state will be allowed to resume partially to enable the courts to clear a backlog of important cases.

Kehinde said the decision was based on the fact that the Lagos state government has shown interest in addressing JUSUN’s demands.

But the national body reprimanded the Lagos chapter, noting that the partial court reopening implies going against the union in general.

In a circular seen on Thursday, signed by one Sanusi Kamal who identified himself as a director of administration, all members of staff were asked to resume.

“In view of the communique issued by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Lagos state branch on the 27th April 2021, I have the directive to inform all members of staff to resume at their various duty post on Thursday, 29th April 2021,” the circular stated.

“It should be noted that officers are expected to be in office only on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of every week until further directive from JUSUN.

“Kindly give this information a wider dissemination as expected.”

However, reacting to the situation, Jimoh Alonge, JUSUN treasurer, said the circular is against the union’s mandate.

“The document going round signed by one Sanusi that is not known to us. He is not our ESCO member in Lagos, not a national officer, we don’t know him but he claims to be a director of administration in Lagos. That is strange to us and unacceptable,” Alonge said.

“Our strike is seriously on and as I am speaking with you now, our team are on their way to Lagos to make sure the strike is upheld.

“Nobody should deceive people that the strike has been called off. The name of our chairman in Lagos is Shobowale and there is no document signed by Shobowale to us. Even Shobowale doesn’t have the authority to call off the strike because it is a decision of the NWC.

“Sanusi was not the one that called for the strike therefore he doesn’t have a locus to call it off.”