JUSUN STRIKE: Kano NBA to Engage Ganduje on Financial Autonomy for Judiciary
The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Kano has said it has concluded all arrangements to engage the governor of Kano State in a discourse on the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
The national leadership of NBA last week directed all branches to meet with state governors and impress on them the need to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary.
NBA president, Olumude Akpata, gave this directive in a statement on Friday.
Akpata was earlier challenged by some members of the NBA over his initial stance that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike was not well-timed.
He later indicated his resolve to be holistic in his support for the strike.
According to him, “As you are aware, we are now in the second week of the nationwide strike action and total shutdown of the Nigerian courts by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (“JUSUN”) which was embarked upon to press home the long-standing demand for financial autonomy of the Nigerian Judiciary.
“This demand for financial autonomy is legitimate, constitutional and is in the best interest of the Judiciary as it is one of the key parameters for enthroning independence of the Judiciary and fostering democracy.”
He said “After due consultations with several stakeholders, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that the NBA must take more decisive steps at this troubling moment. We must, as a body, act in consonance with the aims and objects of our Constitution, by effectively playing our role in the defence of the independence of the Judiciary which this fight for financial autonomy seeks to achieve.
“In view of the above, the Chairmen of all the branches of the NBA are hereby requested to effectively mobilize their members and pay visits to their respective State Governors at the Government Houses on Monday, 19th April 2021 to press home the demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
“At the visit, NBA Branches in each State are to present a joint written demand to their State Governor requesting full compliance with existing legislative instruments and court judgments on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
“The Chairmen of the NBA Branches are further requested to ensure that these visits are embarked upon, every subsequent Monday, until there is full compliance with this demand that is aimed at strengthening our democracy and the dispensation of justice. We trust that our members will give the leadership of their respective branches all the support that they require to achieve this much needed victory for our justice system.”
In view of this directive, the secretary of Kano branch Haruna Sale Zakariyya, told members on Monday that “the leadership of Kano branch has been up and doing in making the visit to the Governor possible. Consequently, the Governor has agreed to meet with the leadership on Monday the 20th April 2021 to discuss the issue.”
He said members would “be updated about any development in that regard as we trust that you will give the leadership all the necessary support it may require to achieve this needed victory for our judicial system. Supporting the financial autonomy of the judiciary is promoting the rule of law.
