Rights groups appeal to judiciary workers to call off strike

LAGOS – Human rights groups on Monday pleaded with judiciary workers to call off their strike for the sake of detainees and inmates awaiting trial.
The groups: Access to Justice (AJ), Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) and Prisoners Rights [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), made the plea in separate interviews with[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″] News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN recalls that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), began the strike on Jan. 2 to demand [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]states implementation of court’s judgment granting financial independence to the judiciary.
Mr Joseph Otteh, Executive Director, AJ, told NAN that the situation was unfortunate, especially for
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]persons in detention.
Otteh said: “I would have been a lot happier if JUSUN made provision for this category of persons because they are the ones bearing the brunt.
“They are the ones who will suffer from what they did not cause and perhaps JUSUN should put them into consideration.”
He, however, acknowledged that what they were clamouring for was very important to governance in Nigeria.
Mr Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, founder, PRAI, said some persons were being unjustly incarcerated due to the lingering strike.
“It is a very pathetic situation and one that needs urgent attention because without the court, a lot of people will continue to be detained in police stations and State Security Services’ custody.
“I am therefore appealing to the government and workers to find a middle ground to resolve this dispute”, he said.
Mr Chino Obiagwu, National Coordinator, LEDAP, said the strike was very necessary as the government had failed to comply with the Jan.13, 2014 judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Obiagwu said: “We sympathise with those caught in the cross-fire but this is the sacrifice Nigerians have to make to improve our judiciary.
“The strike is proper because the country will be in trouble if government cannot comply with the court’s order.
“We support the strike and it should not be called-off until the order is complied with.” (NAN)