By John Moses
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, Mr Gbenga Akinbuli, has criticised the state government for its alleged disregard of judicial financial autonomy, attributing the ongoing strike by judicial workers to this negligence.
Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Ondo State began an indefinite strike on 13 June, demanding the implementation of constitutional financial independence for the judiciary.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday in Akure, Akinbuli, a lawyer and political figure, accused the state’s Attorney General, Dr Olukayode Ajulo (SAN), of failing to uphold the rule of law and for not advising the government appropriately on constitutional obligations.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ajulo ought to have ensured the government’s compliance with legal norms. His silence is not only disheartening but raises questions about his complicity in what appears to be an anti-judiciary posture,” Akinbuli said.
He described the state’s handling of judicial autonomy as undemocratic and warned that ongoing court closures would significantly harm access to justice for ordinary citizens.
While expressing support for JUSUN’s demands, Akinbuli also appealed to the union to reconsider its indefinite action, noting its potential impact on litigants and public access to justice.
In response, Mr Oluwafemi Lawson, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, defended the government’s position. He said the issues around financial autonomy were more complex than Akinbuli suggested and required coordination between various branches of government.
He added that Attorney General Ajulo had been actively involved in negotiations with JUSUN and had extended invitations for dialogue at multiple locations, including the union’s own secretariat.
