Funke Busari, Lagos
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, is sounding a warning to join the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.
The association gave the warning at its meeting held in Ikeja on Tuesday.
The notification according to the branch’s Chairman, Mr. Bartholomew Aguegbodo is to show solidarity to the striking judiciary workers in demanding for financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Aguegbodo said the NBA would throw its weight behind the strike.
He expressed that the association would not hesitate to carry out a protest if the meeting between the Governors Forum and the union slated for tomorrow (Wednesday) failed to yeild the desired result.
Aguegbodo said that the branch would have no other option than to take further steps to compel them to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“What we are talking about is wilful disobedience to provisions of the constitution.
“Without mincing words, the Lagos State Attorney-General is our member.
“He is our representative there. We are calling on him to make the state government understand the provisions of the constitution on separation of powers.
“However, where that is not done, we would proceed on a protest, to make our position known and our points taken.
“The time has come where all stakeholders will have to take our destiny into our hands,” he said.
The chairman alleged that in Lagos, government had turned the judiciary into a revenue generation arm.
According to him, the branch has passed a resolution that there will be no going back on the strike, until government yields to the demands of the union.
Aguegbodo added that there is the need for the State Government to roll out steps to actualise the financial independence of the judiciary.
“We are putting our full weight behind the JUSUN.
“We as lawyers, particularly Ikeja branch, the Tiger branch, with a voice, will not sit back and watch things go awry, ” the NBA Chairman said
