Strike: Rights Group Backs JUSUN, NARD, Asks FG To Grant Their Wishes

Strike: Rights Group Backs JUSUN, NARD, Asks FG To Grant Their Wishes

A human rights group, Human Rights  Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has said it’s is in total support of strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) for financial autonomy and humane welfare package for their workers.

Consequently, HURMA has called on the government of Nigeria to reconsider its present stand concerning the unions  legitimate demands demands.

HURMA made the call in a release issued and signed by it’s Executive Director, Comrade Isiak Olaitan Buna and Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Barrister Lekan Alabi.

HURMA in the statement captioned: “We Stand By The Legitimate Demands of JUSUN AND NARD From the Government”, also called on President Muhammed Buhari led-government to positively consider and enforce the unions demands. 

The group’s statement reads in part: “the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) calls on the Nigerian government to reconsider its present stand concerning the legitimate demands of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) for judicial independence and humane welfare package being separately demanded for by the two unions but coincidentally being enforced through strike actions.

“We, at the level of HURMA, sincerely beleive that the industrial actions embarked upon by the two unions could have been averted should the government of the day embrace the ethos of democracy as against the grandstanding of monarchy being shamelessly  displayed in ephemeral office.

“We note with dismay that the industrial actions embarked upon by the two unions have shut down the two critical structures of governance. The much abused justice sector has been rendered comatose and prostrate while the health sector has completely collapsed. 

“It is our candid view that no serious country is run in this heartless manner. The political class has provocatively conducted itself in such a way to attract anger from the populace by not attending to pressing social issues because the members of the class across factions have alternatives by seeking health services in Western Europe and North America at the expense of the tax payers.

“The consequence of power irresponsibility of the pretentious political rulers is the compounded misery of our people.

“Although, as at press time, it is alleged that the NARD has suspended its strike action, we believe that without addressing the welfare demands of the union, they will still embark on another round of strike action sooner than later. It is on this note that we demand for a responsible leadership that feels what the general populace are feeling.

“It is high time the governors in Nigeria came out of their illusion that the judicial arm of government is an extension of their offices. 

“Without judicial independence, self-help will surely be the order of the day which will certainly  consume everybody.

“It should be clear to the government that its much propagandized Direct Investment from foreigners will remain a wishful thinking. No investor will come to a country where the judiciary is in the pocket of the executives and the health sector is in shambles.

“Based on the foregoing, we demand an  immediate intervention by the government to positively consider and enforce the demands of JUSUN and ARD. We must wake the government up to constitutional responsibility it owes Nigerians.

“We call on all Nigerians to stand with the unions that practically check the excesses of the political class as they remain our surviving hope”.

editor

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