The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Cross River State Chapter, has embarked on an indefinite strike yesterday to demands for judicial autonomy.
The development paralyzed court activities in the state as both the litigants and lawyers were seen around the court area without access to the premises.
It also affects the inaugural sitting of the 2023 Elections Petition Tribunal in Calabar, as the court premises were shut.
Speaking on why they embarked on the strike, the state Chairman of JUSUN, Enyia Etorti, said the government has failed to respond to their demands for independence of the judiciary since 2015.
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“Then the most pertinent to us is the pending 66% which is CONJUSS. It’s paid all over the country.
“The state only paid 34%, left with 66% and we have been begging the government to pay for years. Moreover, the promotion has not been made for years in the state judiciary.”
Reacting to the development, the Secretary of the Tribunal, Akawu Bambur, told journalists that the tribunal sitting has been adjourned indefinitely due to the strike and a new date would be announced later.
There are some major petitions before the tribunal, one of which is that of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof Sandy Onor, against the state governor-elect and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Bassey Otu.
Also before the panel is the petition by the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade. He is seeking to reverse his loss of the Cross River North Senatorial election to Senator Jarigbe Agom of the Peoples Democratic Party.
