Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN), Rivers State Branch, says it will not suspend the ongoing strike until a counter-directive from the National body is issued.
State Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Anthony Wachukwu, stated this during an interview with our correspondent, while reacting to the confirmation by the Chief Judge Iyayi Lamikanra that the State enjoys financial autonomy.
He, however, maintained that JUSUN Rivers State has never been briefed on such development and that the outcome of the strike action which has entered the fourth week lies in the decision of the National body as the various States have no authority to call it off.
“At the branch level, we are still observing the strike directives from the National and the JUSUN in Rivers State is not aware whether the state enjoys financial autonomy as claimed by the Chief Judge of the state. Before we embarked on the strike, we served the Chief Judge twenty-one (21) days ultimatum, that after the expiring of the ultimatum, if nothing happens, we will sit at home.
“Twenty-one days was enough time for her to inform us that we are enjoying financial autonomy and we should not join the strike. I just heard it now from people that JUSUN Rivers State is enjoying financial autonomy. I am not aware and she has not told us anything.
Comrade Wachukwu further said JUSUN Rivers State has no power to call off the strike based on the claims of the state Chief Judge.
“Let the national body continue to negotiate, what ever they decide, all the branches in the country will obey. The strike was not called by any state in Nigeria, it is a national instruction and the powers to call off the strike or suspend it is entirely the prerogative of the national body.
“At that point, it has rendered the state branch of JUSUN powerless to negotiate or say anything about sustaining or calling off the strike”
