Ekiti courts closure: NLC absolves Jonathan, says Judiciary workers on strike

President Goodluck Jonathan is not behind the closure of courts in Ekiti State.

This is the position of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

It explained that contrary to reports, the continued closure of the courts was as a result of the ongoing strike embarked upon by public servants in the state over unpaid salaries and allowances.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had accused the President of ordering that the Ado-Ekiti High Court Complex be sealed off until the Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, is inaugurated.

The NLC countered the claim, warning that politicians should not read meaning to the matter.

The union in a statement yesterday signed by state Secretary, Comrade Ade Obatoye, also insisted that the strike and the recalcitrant posture of the workers to resume work was not political.

It stated that the ongoing industrial feud between the workers and government also affected the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

It said: “We want to state categorically that all workers in Ekiti State, including the members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria could not have resumed when the demand for payment of two months salaries and other arrears and deductions have not been met by government.

“The impression that workers in the judiciary were being locked out due to certain directives from the Presidency was not only a falsehood, but also unfortunate as we have embarked on an indefinite strike before the arrival of the security personnel who now manned the court premises”.

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