Business
‘JUSUN Must Seek Justice At Industrial Court’
Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), a Lagos based lawyer, last Friday in Abuja said the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) must learn to seek justice at the Industrial Arbitration Court.
Fagbohungbe, who spoke with newsmen on the effect of the recent nationwide strike embarked by the union, stressed that it was an archaic approach to solving industrial disputes.
Our correspondent recalls that the strike by JUSUN, which lasted between May 4 and 5, was to compel the Federal Government to commence the payment of N21,735 as minimum wage for judicial workers.
The new minimum wage was contained in the recommendation by retired Justice A.R Ejiwumi Welfare Package/Salary Committee for the judicial sector, which included the Prison Services and Police in 2005.
JUSUN claimed that the authorities had introduced a system of divide-and-rule by implementing the recommendations in favour of the Police and the Prison Service two years ago.
Fagbohungbe stressed that workers in the country must imbibe the culture of seeking redress to whatever labour agreement they entered into with employers at the Industrial Court.
“It is when we do this that the country will move forward, people must fight for their rights but it must be done not to flout other people’s rights”.
“Can you imagine the cost tolls on litigants when they travel from far distances to attend proceedings only to be barred from entering the courts.
“The action is primitive, retrogressive and do not speak well about us as a people, in fact, the judiciary does not require any of such interruption,’’ he said.
According to him, the authorities must ensure that the grievances of all workers in the country are assuaged.