Reps meet JUSUN, back call for judicial independence

The House of Representatives on Wednesday supported the call for judicial independence to allow the judiciary function without interference.

The House Committee on Judiciary disclosed at its meeting with members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

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The chairman of the committee, Onofiok Luke, said the house supported the concerns and yearnings of members of the association adding that, the autonomy of the judiciary is vital to the survival of democracy and operations of the three arms of government.

“As a committee, we share in the sentiments as expressed by JUSUN. From our colleagues, they were just proposing some of the measures that we feel that we can put in place to arrive at a just conclusion.”

He said the committee wanted to get more information from JUSUN to help it know where and who to actually engage and get a solution to the impasse.

“We’re in solidarity with you on the agitations you’re making to make sure we have financial autonomy that’ll lead to the independence of the judiciary,” he added.

He, however, faulted JUSUN’s decision of shutting down all courts, saying the problem was more with some state governments that had not complied with the constitution on the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

He noted that the Federal Government had obeyed the law and released funds to the courts under its control.

He said by shutting down all courts, the union was punishing the Federal Government alongside the erring state governments.

He appealed to the Nigerian Governors Forum to intervene, saying the house would also meet with the NGF on the issue.

Earlier, JUSUN National Assistant Secretary, Shehu Magaji, said state governors had refused to release funds to the judiciary as granted through the Executive Order.