CJ asks Lagos to pay judiciary workers as Fashola faults strike

CHIEF Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, has appealed to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to grant the autonomy of the judiciary as well as pay the January salary of judiciary workers withheld as a result of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike.

    Atilade, who made the appeal Tuesday in her welcome address at the commissioning of a new High/Magistrate Court complex Ikeja named after a former Chief Judge, Justice Rosaline Omotosho, maintained that payment of January salaries would ensure their support, boost the morale and productivity of the judiciary staff.

However, Governor Fashola said the issues between both arms of government could have been better resolved through dialogue, affirming that the nationwide strike by the workers was dangerous to the stability of the country, which is capable of sending wrong signal to international community

    The Chief Judge, however, said when JUSUN called off the strike in Lagos State, the industrial action was still going on in other states of the federation.

    Atilade also urged the government to grant the judiciary financial autonomy as provided for in the 1999 Constitution, noting that the state judiciary had undergone commendable progress under the present administration.

    Atilade therefore expressed appreciation to the state government for the new court complex, which she said, would boost quick dispensation of justice in the state.

    She however, reiterated the commitment of the judiciary to effective justice delivery in the state, affirmed that efforts would also be intensified to expose judges and magistrates in the state to modern trends in justice delivery.

Governor Fashola in his remarks continued that his administration would never do anything to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

    According to the governor, “JUSUN did not explore all possible avenues before shutting down the nation’s justice system in their quest for financial autonomy for the judiciary. Embarking on strike to enforce a court judgment was not proper because those constitutionally saddled with such responsibilities are the court’s bailiffs.”

    He admitted the independence of the different arms of government as guaranteed under the constitution, noted that the different arms are also interdependence of each other.