Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has said the decision by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria to embark on protest is in line with the provisions of the constitution.
The CJN, however said it had become difficult to fault the idea of the strike since the rights of the union and its members which had been clearly defined in the constitution were being denied especially at state levels.
“I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the constitution. I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,” he said.
The CJN stated this during a meeting he had with JUSUN national leaders in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the CJN, Ahuraka Isah, the meeting was to give the CJN feedback on his recent demand on the union to call off the ongoing strike.
The CJN had, at an earlier meeting with JUSUN leaders on April 6, asked the union to call off the strike in view of its adverse effect on the justice system in the country.
But during the meeting on Wednesday, 22, JUSUN maintained its position on why it would not suspend the strike action.
The group said the action would only be suspended if state governors begin to demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place some measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary in their respective states.