JUSUN Vows To Continue Strike In Rivers

The Judiciary Staff Union
of Nigeria (JUSUN), South-South zone, has vowed that the industrial action embarked upon by its members in Rivers State since June 10, 2014, will continue despite moves by some concerned lawyers and stakeholders in justice administration to  resolve the crisis.
In a communiqué obtained by The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday and signed by the JUSUN National Vice Chairman, South-South zone, Comrade Victor Ekpela, the union said it would resist any attempt by any person to scuttle the strike.
Ekpela said the South-South zone of the union took the decision to support the ongoing strike in Rivers State during its recently held zonal meeting in Benin.
The South-South zone of the union said that since its national body had taken over the issue, it was better for the judiciary workers in the state to continue with the industrial action pending the resolution of the issue by its national body.
The communiqué noted that, “the zone in session supports the embarked strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, and urges the workers to continue as the national secretariat has taken over the issue until the workers are satisfied on who is the head of the state judiciary.”
However, a group of concerned lawyers in the state said they were exploring ways to amicably resolve the lingering crisis in the state’s judiciary with a  view to ensuring the union call off the strike action.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday, spokesman of the group, Barr David Kenneth, said the group had met with stakeholders in justice administration in the state on how best to resolve the crisis.
It would be recalled that JUSUN in the state had embarked on  strike since June 10, 2014 over what  the union called insecurity of lives and property within the court premises across the state.
The strike action has paralyzed court activities in the state since then.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday men of the Nigerian Police Force, Rivers Police Command numbering over 50, forcefully broke into the High Court premises with Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha to have meeting with some judges of the state High Courts.
All efforts by The Tide to speak with the Command Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) proved abortive as he was said to have gone out on official assignment but a reliable source within the state Police Command said the police had not taken sides in the crisis.
The source informed The Tide that police duties include protection of lives and properties in the state and not aiding the break down of law and order in the society.

Philip Okparaji