Judiciary workers challenges Oshiomhole over resumption threat

It was learnt that the workers, under the auspices of the Judiciary
Staff Union of Nigeria, had since January 5, 2015 commenced the strike
over the alleged unwillingness of the state government to comply with
the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, upholding the autonomy
of the judiciary.
The strike by the workers was also to protest the non-payment of their
June 2014 and January 2015 salaries.
However, in a bid to reopen the courts, the Edo State Judicial Service
Commission had, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Isaac Sanu,
last week Thursday, instructed the workers to return to their duty
posts on May 18, threatening to dismiss any of them who failed to
comply with the directive.
But the judicial workers, many of whom were seen at the entrance of
the state high court on Sapele Road, described the directive as
illegal and vowed not to call off the strike until their grievances
were addressed.
It was, however, gathered that the main gate to the high court was
forced open at about 9am on Monday under the supervision of the Chief
Registrar of the court in spite of resistance by the striking workers.
But the Vice Chairman of JUSUN in the state, John Egbomeade,
reportedly described the forceful opening of the court as mere
intimidation which the workers would not succumb to.
Egbomeade said, "The Chief Registrar of the High Court, H. E. Enemaku,
came to break the door and forced the door open; that the workers are
willing to come to work. But you can see that even some hours after
the door has been broken, no member of staff is prepared to work.
"So, that is to tell you that they are trying to intimidate the
workers to come to work. But the workers are saying there is no going
back. So, irrespective of any threat, the strike continues. So, the
workers are resolute, undaunted; no going back until our demands are
met."
Egbomeade, who described the directive of the JSC as "illegal, null
and void," said the union had already filed a suit numbered
NIC/15/2015 before the National Industrial Court, joining the
commission as the third respondent.
"So, it is very surprising and very unfortunate that a commission
headed by a chief judge, who is a lawyer and a judge, can condescend
so low to use our members to break the gate. The workers here are in
solidarity with us.
"Our stand is that the strike continues until further directives. As
they (JSC) are meeting, we are meeting and we are getting in touch
with our national body because it's not just a state strike," he
added.
But the Secretary of the JSC maintained that the directive of the
commission asking the striking workers to resume remained effective.
"The stand of the commission is that all workers of the Edo State
judiciary should resume duty today, without which they will know the
consequence that follows," he said.
When firstclass newsline asked if the workers should consider
themselves sacked, having disregarded the directive of the commission,
Sanu said, "Leave that for the commission; it is not for me to
pronounce that here."
However, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel
Ademokun, assured the people that the strike would be called off
"sooner or later," as the union was making efforts to negotiate with
the state government.
He said, "We are used to sacking but I believe we will resolve the
matter amicably. My concern is to dialogue with the Edo State
Government, which I'll soon do, and I can assure you that sooner or
later the workers will resume.
Firstclassnewsline.net"