The Judiciary Staff Union Congress of Nigeria (JUSUN) has blocked the Election Petitions Tribunal (EPT) from sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
They said they embarked on an indefinite strike since yesterday, and as a result, no judicial activities can be held in the state.
Secretary of the EPT, Akawu Bamber, had invited journalists for the sitting in Calabar which was to commence from May 3, 2023, to hear grievances arising from the last national and state house of assembly elections.
Officials of the EPT who arrived at the venue of the EPT sitting on Moore Road, Calabar, met all entrances locked up.
Bandits’ attacks: Kebbi senator-elect condoles affected communities
Senate seeks life imprisonment for manufacturers of illegal explosives
Chairman of JUSUN in Cross River State, Comrade Enya Egon Etorti, confirmed that they commenced an industrial action a day earlier.
In an 8-point demand, Etorti said they are demanding full implementation of the constitutional provisions of the financial autonomy of the judiciary, payment of the 66% balance of Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), as well as the long overdue staff promotions.
He also mentioned that they want full implementation of promotion benefits across the board, re-inclusion of their staff excluded from state government payroll since 2014 and that payment of their salaries be done to date, among others.
In his reaction, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Attah Ochinke, who was also affected by the lockout, appealed to the authorities to listen to the grievances of JUSUN.
