Autonomy For Judiciary Non-Negotiable, Senate Tells Govs

Senate on Monday urged the 36 Governors to grant autonomy to
judiciary

It insisted autonomy for judiciary is non-negotiable.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the call while answering
questions from reporters in Abuja.

Bamidele said it is laughable to be grappling with judicial
autonomy at this stage of the nation’s development.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had declared an
industrial action and nationwide protests to compel governors to
obey the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Executive Order 10
which granted autonomy to judiciary in the country.

While responding to a question, Opeyemi said: “It is laughable
that at this point, we are still grappling with the need to grant
independence to the judiciary arm of government at the state and
local government levels.

“The National Assembly has been making laws that would guarantee
full autonomy to the judiciary at the Federal level.

“The National Assembly does not make laws for the states; such
power resides in the state Houses of Assembly.

“Judiciary at the Federal Capital Territory is independent
because we have done what we are supposed to do.

“What is next is for the State Houses of Assembly to do what
they are supposed to do.

“As a principle, as a policy, members of the Senate Committee on
Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, have tried not to call
on those who are protesting to stop such protests.

“We do not want protests but definitely, we would rather talk
more to State Governors, Houses of Assembly and other stakeholders
to do the needful in the overriding public interest.

“We cannot continue to call on the judiciary to give peace a
chance when we know the conditions under which they work cannot
guarantee a passionate and enhanced delivery of justice.

“We are talking about judicial reforms; we are talking about the
need for justice sector reforms.

“This is central and crucial to the independence of the
judiciary in this country. We must not be left behind by the rest
of the civilized world.

“Nobody stands to lose anything by granting independence to
judiciary at the state level since it has been done at the national
level.

“The fact that workers and staff of federal judiciary are
joining the protest is only in solidarity with their colleagues at
the state levels.

“It is a union matter and we do not have a control over it. We
are hereby calling on the State Governors to do the needful because
the independence of the judiciary is non- negotiable.

“No democracy can survive without being founded on the rule of
law and independent judiciary.”

Senate on Monday urged the 36 Governors to grant autonomy to
judiciary

It insisted autonomy for judiciary is non-negotiable.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the call while answering
questions from reporters in Abuja.

Bamidele said it is laughable to be grappling with judicial
autonomy at this stage of the nation’s development.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had declared an
industrial action and nationwide protests to compel governors to
obey the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Executive Order 10
which granted autonomy to judiciary in the country.

While responding to a question, Opeyemi said: “It is laughable
that at this point, we are still grappling with the need to grant
independence to the judiciary arm of government at the state and
local government levels.

“The National Assembly has been making laws that would guarantee
full autonomy to the judiciary at the Federal level.

“The National Assembly does not make laws for the states; such
power resides in the state Houses of Assembly.

“Judiciary at the Federal Capital Territory is independent
because we have done what we are supposed to do.

“What is next is for the State Houses of Assembly to do what
they are supposed to do.

“As a principle, as a policy, members of the Senate Committee on
Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, have tried not to call
on those who are protesting to stop such protests.

“We do not want protests but definitely, we would rather talk
more to State Governors, Houses of Assembly and other stakeholders
to do the needful in the overriding public interest.

“We cannot continue to call on the judiciary to give peace a
chance when we know the conditions under which they work cannot
guarantee a passionate and enhanced delivery of justice.

“We are talking about judicial reforms; we are talking about the
need for justice sector reforms.

“This is central and crucial to the independence of the
judiciary in this country. We must not be left behind by the rest
of the civilized world.

“Nobody stands to lose anything by granting independence to
judiciary at the state level since it has been done at the national
level.

“The fact that workers and staff of federal judiciary are
joining the protest is only in solidarity with their colleagues at
the state levels.

“It is a union matter and we do not have a control over it. We
are hereby calling on the State Governors to do the needful because
the independence of the judiciary is non- negotiable.

“No democracy can survive without being founded on the rule of
law and independent judiciary.”