JUSUN STRIKE: NBA President Olumide Akpata Lauds Lawyers For Their Support 

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Olumide Akpata,
has commended lawyers of our noble profession for their supports
and patience during the JUSUN strike which lasted for 2 months.

The President expressed his appreciation in a statement
Thursday, where he recounted the involvement of NBA during the
Nationwide strike action.

Read the full statement below

REPORT (No. 2) FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION ON THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY THE JUDICIARY STAFF UNION
OF NIGERIA (JUSUN)

You will recall that in my update of 22nd May 2021 on the
above subject, I had chronicled the circumstances that led to the
unfortunate strike action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union
of Nigeria (“JUSUN”); the efforts are initially taken by
my team and I to avert the said strike; and the mediatory efforts
that the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has been
playing towards bringing the strike action to a fruitful end so
that our courts can re-open for business.

I had specifically referred to a negotiated agreement
reached between JUSUN and the State Governors under the aegis of
Nigerian Governors Forum (‘NGF”) which outlined
the modalities for the enforcement of the financial autonomy of the
Judiciary for optimal performance. Last Friday – 4th June 2021, the
State Governors after initial hesitation, signed their part of the
agreement which, among other things, required the Governors to
release funds to the Heads of Courts in their respective States
before the industrial action can be called off.

However, following a multi-stakeholder meeting held on the
8th of June 2021 at the instance of the National Judicial Council
(“NJC”), with the leadership of JUSUN, the NBA and
other stakeholders in attendance, JUSUN resolved to suspend the
strike action in the interest of lawyers and members of the public
who have particularly borne the brunt of the strike action.
Hence, the announcement made by JUSUN a few hours ago,
suspending the strike action, at the end of an emergency meeting of
its National Executive Council.

In a bid to address concerns raised by JUSUN on the bona
fides and commitment of the State Governors to meeting their part
of the obligations under the negotiated agreement, the NJC has set
up a Monitoring Committee which is to ensure that the Governors do
not renege from their financial and ancillary commitments, which
influenced JUSUN’s decision to suspend the strike. The Monitoring
Committee is made up of (i) HRH Justice Sidi Bage (Chairman); (ii)
the President of the National Industrial Court; (iii) the Chief
Judge of Abia State; (iv) the NBA President; and (v) Dr. Muiz
Banire, SAN.

There is no question that the last ten weeks have been
particularly challenging for many of our members, as a result of
the now-suspended strike action. To this end, permit me to place on
record my total appreciation to our members, the leadership of the
various branches of the NBA, and to all those who showed remarkable
doggedness throughout the duration of this very unfortunate episode
in our history as a profession and a nation. It is my hope that
these sacrifices will contribute towards our quest for a more
independent and efficient judiciary in Nigeria.

While we express optimism never to tread this path again,
please be assured that, regardless of any misgivings or
shortcomings in the process, the NBA will continue to engage with
the State Governors and JUSUN, towards a holistic resolution of the
issues that necessitated the industrial action in the first
instance.

OLUMIDE AKPATA
President
9th June 2021

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Olumide Akpata,
has commended lawyers of our noble profession for their supports
and patience during the JUSUN strike which lasted for 2 months.

The President expressed his appreciation in a statement
Thursday, where he recounted the involvement of NBA during the
Nationwide strike action.

Read the full statement below

REPORT (No. 2) FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION ON THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY THE JUDICIARY STAFF UNION
OF NIGERIA (JUSUN)

You will recall that in my update of 22nd May 2021 on the
above subject, I had chronicled the circumstances that led to the
unfortunate strike action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union
of Nigeria (“JUSUN”); the efforts are initially taken by
my team and I to avert the said strike; and the mediatory efforts
that the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has been
playing towards bringing the strike action to a fruitful end so
that our courts can re-open for business.

I had specifically referred to a negotiated agreement
reached between JUSUN and the State Governors under the aegis of
Nigerian Governors Forum (‘NGF”) which outlined
the modalities for the enforcement of the financial autonomy of the
Judiciary for optimal performance. Last Friday – 4th June 2021, the
State Governors after initial hesitation, signed their part of the
agreement which, among other things, required the Governors to
release funds to the Heads of Courts in their respective States
before the industrial action can be called off.

However, following a multi-stakeholder meeting held on the
8th of June 2021 at the instance of the National Judicial Council
(“NJC”), with the leadership of JUSUN, the NBA and
other stakeholders in attendance, JUSUN resolved to suspend the
strike action in the interest of lawyers and members of the public
who have particularly borne the brunt of the strike action.
Hence, the announcement made by JUSUN a few hours ago,
suspending the strike action, at the end of an emergency meeting of
its National Executive Council.

In a bid to address concerns raised by JUSUN on the bona
fides and commitment of the State Governors to meeting their part
of the obligations under the negotiated agreement, the NJC has set
up a Monitoring Committee which is to ensure that the Governors do
not renege from their financial and ancillary commitments, which
influenced JUSUN’s decision to suspend the strike. The Monitoring
Committee is made up of (i) HRH Justice Sidi Bage (Chairman); (ii)
the President of the National Industrial Court; (iii) the Chief
Judge of Abia State; (iv) the NBA President; and (v) Dr. Muiz
Banire, SAN.

There is no question that the last ten weeks have been
particularly challenging for many of our members, as a result of
the now-suspended strike action. To this end, permit me to place on
record my total appreciation to our members, the leadership of the
various branches of the NBA, and to all those who showed remarkable
doggedness throughout the duration of this very unfortunate episode
in our history as a profession and a nation. It is my hope that
these sacrifices will contribute towards our quest for a more
independent and efficient judiciary in Nigeria.

While we express optimism never to tread this path again,
please be assured that, regardless of any misgivings or
shortcomings in the process, the NBA will continue to engage with
the State Governors and JUSUN, towards a holistic resolution of the
issues that necessitated the industrial action in the first
instance.

OLUMIDE AKPATA
President
9th June 2021