Judicial Autonomy: NBA bombards Oyo Govt Secretariat, says demand is constitutional
By Bolaji Omosonya, Ibadan
As Judiciary workers continue their industrial action over failure of both the federal and state governments to grant them financial autonomy as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigerian constitution, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan chapter, on Monday, stormed the Oyo State Governor’s office to add their wait to the strike action.
Barr Olayinka Esan, Chairman of the branch, frowned at the disposition of the State Government to the issue on ground whereby the prisons and police cells get congested and lawyers could not file new cases due the insensitivity of those at helms of affairs.
He opined that prison inmates and accused persons are being made to suffer unnecessarily due no fault of
their own.
Esan said that though the association did not officially inform Governor Seyi Makinde of their visit. They, however, expected him to come out to address them.
He pointed out that the Chief Security Adviser to the Governor refused them entry to see his principal saying that they did not book an appointment before hand.
He added that the demand for autonomy is not restricted to the judiciary arm of government alone and it is also been fought at the legislative level stating that the Oyo State House of Assembly is currently under lock and key by its workers since the past three weeks.
Esan also mentioned that local councils are having their own agitation, maintaining that both the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government must be accorded financial independence as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.