Ten courts shuts down for lack of manpower in Plateau State- Comrd. Longji

Ten courts shut's down for lack of manpower in Plateau State- Comrd. Longji

The Chairman Judiciary Staff Union Plateau State branch, Comrd. Philip M. Longji has disclosed that no fewer than ten (10) courts has been shut down in Plateau due to the lack of manpower and dilapidation.

The Chairman who made the disclosure at the Plateau State High Court complex premises in Jos, while fielding question from some selected media men on the recently embarked nation wide strike by the Judicial Staff Union over the lack of implementation of financial autonomy granted by Mr President.

Comrd. Philip stated that since 2010, people have died, while some have retired but up till date there is no employment and because of that so many courts on the Plateau have been short down.

He said in the places where courts have been short down, you will fine out that cases in those places has pilled up, and this negatively affected the speedy dispensation of Justice, and the issue of dilapidated courts is another different case of its own that need the Governors urgent attention or else we will wake up one day and see that there are no courts in the state.

Speaking over the Union embarking on the strike, he said it was due to the non implication of financial autonomy which Mr President Muhammadu Buhari signed some times  back. He also reveal that if one could recall it is call order 10 executive order, which give a backup and it has also become a constitutional right to section 121(3) of the Nigeria constitution as amended. That all funs should be channel from the consolidated to the headed of courts in other to fast track and to take care of the courts and that is why because of non implication that is what prompted this shorting down the courts. 

Speaking over the non implementation whether it is a sabotage to Mr President's order by the Governors, he said, " I don't know how our system work's, honestly I can say there is totally lacunae, because he is the number one citizen of this country, and already he has signed an Executive order, that means he sees there is every need for the Judiciary and the Parliament to be financially independent. We are not talking about any other thing rather than the financial independent of this two arm of the Government. Mind you Mr President is not an illiterate, if Mr President will signed this into law and yet there is no compliance to the order by the Governors there most be something wrong in this country. 

Also speaking over the implications of the strike on common citizens seeking for justice, he said yes it has a direct negative effect on those having one case or the other in the competent court of jurisdiction, as this strike affect right from supreme court down to area courts in the country. 

Furthermore, speaking over how Governor Lalong is handling the judiciary on the Plateau, Comrd. Philip gives kudus to the Governor over his efforts towards prompt payment of salaries, but also call on Governor Lalong to act fast on their letter laying down on his table in respect to the challenges of lack of manpower and the level of decapitated stage of courts structures in the state. 

He also reveal that other challenges facing the Judiciary are issues of overhead, worddrop allowances, and lack of conversion. He said you sent people to school, when they come back you refused to convert them what will give them motivation to put in their best if you can't convert them.