Unpaid Salaries: Judiciary workers tackle Bello over table payment

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Kogi State chapter is on coalition course with the Kogi State Government over the issue of table payment, following backlog of unpaid salaries, Fresh Angle International can report.

JUSUN stressed that it will maintain its stand on compliance with the constitutional provisions that prescribes financial independence for state judiciaries.

 Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that chairman of Kogi State branch of JUSUN, Comrade Emmanuel Waniko, revealed Monday November 19 that the state government’s decision to embark on table payment of part of the arrears of salaries owed the state workers may have sparked the row. 

He also indicated that the government’s refusal to agree an upward review and timely remittance of the age-long monthly subvention due to the state judiciary was another factor in the looming crisis between the union and the managements of the three courts in the state.

The combined management of the State’s High Court, Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal, were reportedly requested by the union to explain the modalities and time of payment of the five months outstanding salaries owed to staff of the judiciary.

The meeting was however deadlocked after a failed attempt by the managements to pacify the growing agitations of the leadership of the union.

Other sources close to the union have also stated that the leadership of the union was not comfortable with the disclosure that the state government had requested the management of the courts to furnish it with the monthly salary payroll of the judiciary.

In a swift reaction to the development, the union said it frowned at the attempt of the executive to muscle the state’s third arm of government against the constitutional provisions that guarantee the financial independence of the judiciary. 

It said the development contravenes the recent legislative amendment to the constitution assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari which strengthens the financial autonomy of state judiciaries and legislatures.

Comrade Waniko further disclosed that JUSUN was bent on taking legal and other constitutionally acceptable measures to ensure that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not in any way subverted. 

He said JUSUN would not relent as the struggle borders on the welfare of staff, which includes salaries and the provision of conducive working environment.

The JUSUN chapter of the state stressed that the staff of the state judiciary have suffered unacceptable subjugation and repression in the hands of the executive arm of the state for too long and can no longer bear it.

 The union said the financial negligence of the judiciary over time, especially in the last three years, has reduced the judiciary and its staff to public ridicule despite the enormity of its constitutional and societal roles. 

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