By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Cross River State Chapter on Wednesday stalled the Election Petition Tribunal Sitting in Calabar for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Panel. Secretary Akawu Bambur told our Correspondent that the union has locked the both entrance of the Court Premises making it difficult for the tribunal to sit and be inaugurated.
” There seem to be a halt on the activities of the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Panel 1, sitting in Calabar as the tribunal have been denied access into the High Court Complex Calabar, supposed venue for the tribunal”
Our reporter who visited the venue at about 10 o’clock on Wednesday morning, observed that even the Secretary of the panel, Akawu Bambur was not allowed in to the premises. He, however, expressed worry over the Tribunal inability to sit due to the strike.
“We had discussed with them (the judiciary workers), that they should allow us to sit, they agreed, but surprisingly today we can’t gain entrance into the venue.
“We will communicate a new date because for today we cannot sit , you can see that everywhere is locked,” Akawu said.
Meanwhile, at exactly 10:24 AM on Wednesday morning, our reporter contacted the State Chairman of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on phone about 3 times, to enquire about the development, but he did not respond.
In a notice signed by the JUSUN State Chairman Enya Etorti, it highlighted some of the reasons for the strike to include – “implementation of the Constitutional provision of the financial autonomy of the judiciary, payment of the 66 per cent balance, and consolidated judiciary salary structure.
“Staff promotion, creation of conducive working environment,” amongst others.
The statement further directed all union members to, “stay at home starting from 2nd of May, 2023 until their demands are met.
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