NLC Shuts Down Election Petitions Tribunal/Courts, As Judiciary Staff Union Joins Strike

By Adesina Soyooye

Those waiting for an early end to Election Petitions, including that of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, will have to wait for a longer period than expected. The Nigeria Labour Congress, has shut down the Courts.

This follows the decision of the Nigerian Judiciary to join the strike action called  NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, which begins on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The NLC called out all its affiliates to embark on a Nationwide strike action to protest the sudden removal of subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS.

President Bola Tinubu had, surprisingly, on May 29, the day he was sworn into office as President, announced the, complete withdrawal of the subsidy on PMS, during his inaugural speech to the Nation. He said the subsidy was not captured in the 2023 Budget which he inherited.

The withdrawal shut the price of petrol to an unprecedented high, selling as much as N1,200 per litre in some States of the Federation, and in most others between N500 and N700 per liter. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd, NNPCL, on 31st May, 2023, released a new official price, and put it at between N488 and N555 per litre.

The sudden increase in the price affected the masses in no small measure, and triggered untold hardship.

The NLC in reaction, after a deadlocked meeting with the Presidency, called out workers on strike, insisting that the Federal Government did not have the courtesy to consult with the Union before the increase. Most affiliate Unions of the NLC, including  the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have endorsed and joined the Strike action. And so has the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN

A letter of compliance signed by M.J. Akwashiki for JUSUN’s General Secretary, dated 3rd June, 2023, to its Deputy President, Vice Presidents, and all its branches, reads: “l bring you fraternal greetings from the Leadership of the  Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

“This is to inform all branches and chapters of our great Union across Nigeria, to begin mobilization for a nationwide action and withdrawal of service which would would commence on Wednesday, 7th June 2023.

“This followed a decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at its meeting on 2nd June, 2023, over the increase in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government through NNPCL.

“All zonal vice presidents are to coordinate their zones by ensuring that Branch and chapters chairmen, mobilize their members for a total compliance. Also, note that the nationwide action commences on Wednesday 7th June, 2023.

JUSUN’s participation in the strike action automatically shuts down the Election Petitions Courts until the situation is sorted out.