PLATEAU: LOWER COURTS IN DIRE NEED OF INTERVENTION- Lonji
Speaking through its chairman, Comrade Philip Longji, the body revealed that no fewer than 10 lower courts in Plateau State have been shut down for lack of staff.
Comrade Philip Longji, chairman, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Plateau State branch while answering questions from newsmen over the ongoing industrial action by judicial staff Union nation wide said "The reason behind the strike is the non implementation of financial autonomy which Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari signed into law sometimes back, if you can recall it is called executive order 10, which gives the backup. It is a constitutional right to section 121 sub section 3 of the Nigerian constitution 1999 as amended which states that all funds should be channeled from the consolidated funds to the head of courts in other to fast track and to tàke care of the courts. So the non implementation of this lead to our strike".
When asked if the non implementation of the executive order is a sabotage on the Predident's directive, Longji opines "There is total lacoona, if the president who is the number one citizen could sign an executive order,that means he has seen that there is a need for the judiciary and the Parliament to be on their own financially but with what is happening, to me its like the more you look the less you see because if Mr President could sign that order since and up till date it has not been implemented then there must be something wrong in this country".
Trying to throw more light on the impasse, the Attorney general revealed that Plateau state government has accepted the financial autonomy for both legislative and Judiciary and are waiting for the governor's ascent on the two bills as well the final report on the framework on disbosement of the fund.
More findings by The Grassroots Watch who sort the reaction of the Plateau State Government on this matter through the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chrysanthus Ahmadu, revealed that the Lalong administration is faced with paucity of funds but within the limited resources government is determined to deliver major projects in order of priority starting with the high court complex after which it will cascade down.
On the level of compliance of the strike on the Plateau the JUSUN chairman said "The level of compliance all over the country is 100%. I think this is the first time that the Supreme Court which is the Apex Court in Nigeria has been shut down, it is the total compliance that all courts in the country have been shut down. From Supreme Court down to Area Courts have been shut down. This strike is a total strike and it is indefinite. This strike is the only way the government can hear us and implement the executive order 10" he said.
Comrade Longji who gave kudos to his Excellency governor Simon Bako Lalong for prompt payment of salaries however decried "but in respect of man power, structures and welfare, our letter is before him in respect of the challenges we are faced with. The dilapidated condition of most courts, the inadequate staff strength, the overhead, wardrobe allowances and conversion. Our letter is before him and we have enumerated the challenges we are facing"
Also in a response, the Attorney General said " this is a government with high sense of responsibility and a hunger to deliver, we are aware of the issue of manpower shortage but it cuts across all level of government, you would recall there was an exercise where employment was to be carried out but certain factors crept in to disrupt the exercise, first it was COVID-19, and the dwindling resources and there was no point recruiting more staff you cannot pay".
Butressing on their challenges, Lonji adds "Some of the issues are, since 2010, some of our workers have died, some have retired, yet there is no employment or replacement, this makes the judicial staff strength so lean, as a result, courts have been shut down, and as such cases have been piled up and the dispensation of justice is not flowing the way its suppose to be, then the issue of dilapidated courts, there are dilapidated courts that a judge cannot even sit in the court, this too affects the dispensation of justice. We have been magnanimous with government, we have waited for long thinking his Excellency is one of us as a lawyer, that is why we had confidence to write him".
On the number of courts that have been shut down in the state, Longji further revealed "Base on my assessment as the chairman, precisely there are about 6-7 courts that have been shut down because there are no staff, no judge. The governor should not allow the system to collapse. If he will not employ he should allow room for conversion or replacement".
In government's response, the Attorney general stressed that " it is unfortunate that the Judiciary like other sectors have been impacted by the dwindling resources of the state, but the situation you mentioned about some courts being closed down on account of manpower shortage, it has not been brought to my attention, you would agree that if that is the case then it is an emergency situation that should be quickly addressed but I will endeavor to find out from the chief registrar if that is indeed the case so that we can see what we can do or what interim measures can be put in place to get these courts back functioning "
He further adds" be rest assured that this government is one that would address issues of Judiciary adequately and we are committed to that"
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