Nigeria: Labour Minister Holds Fresh Talks with Governors, Stakeholders Over Judiciary Workers’ Strike

 

Nigeria’s Labour Minister, Chris Ngige has fixed Tuesday 20th April for a fresh meeting with the leaderships of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), over the lingering strike that has crippled court activities across the country for two weeks.

The rescheduled meeting which is expected to hold in the nation’s capital Abuja, will also have in attendance representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Members of JUSUN had on April 6 embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike to press home their demand for the financial autonomy of the country’s judiciary.

Mr Ngige had on Thursday announced a last-minute postponement of the meeting he was scheduled to hold with the NBA, JUSUN and other stakeholders over the crisis.

The leaderships of the body of lawyers and the striking workers’ union who were infuriated by the abrupt postponement of the meeting had called for nationwide protests.

The protests were held in Abuja and different parts of the country on Monday.

“I am directed to refer to our invitation with reference number ML.IB/155/II/65 dated April 13, 2021 on the above subjected and to inform you that the meeting has been rescheduled as follows:

“Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021; Time: 3:00p.m.

“Venue: Honourable Minister’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Secretariat, Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja,” the memo reads.