We want transformation agenda extended to LOAN – Abdulkadir

Are strike actions legal or illegal?Going by the Labour law, there are some issues which can be resolved through strikes. Clearly speaking, strikes are not illegal because the law recognises strike as another avenue where you tender your grievances to the relevant authorities you are having an issue with and that is why it is […]

Are strike actions legal or illegal?
Going by the Labour law, there are some issues which can be resolved through strikes. Clearly speaking, strikes are not illegal because the law recognises strike as another avenue where you tender your grievances to the relevant authorities you are having an issue with and that is why it is one of the means where you voice out your feelings. In fact the essence of strike is to dialogue. Before now labour matters go to the High Court but to show the seriousness of the issue of strike, labour matters now go to the National Industrial Court (NIC).
What is your stand on the JUSUN strike?
If you look at JUSUN going on strike it does, not mean things are well but that is the only way that they can ensure compliance on the part of the government. The strike usually cannot be a way of executing a judgment but when situation warrants it. JUSUN is asking for financial autonomy and this is based on the judgment which was not appealed. There is no appeal but the judgment has not been executed. Now the federal government has complied with the judgment but the states have not complied with it which is very funny and that is why they have to sensitise their members nationwide and stakeholders to make sure that the judgment is executed. I have to support JUSUN.
LOAN members have also threatened to go on strike, what are your grievances?
It is so ridiculous; there is a clear difference between LOAN and JUSUN strike. But it is the same purpose. In the case of LOAN, in 1994 a circular or a directive came from the Federal Ministry of Justice to states to harmonise the salaries and peculiar allowances of LOAN. About 80 per cent of the states have complied, even Bayelsa State where the president comes from, including the late Yar’adua’s state which is Katsina, while funny enough the authority that issued the directive failed to comply at the federal level and some few states.
What in terms of Naira and Kobo do you mean by harmonisation?
In terms of Naira and kobo, a state like Adamawa which has a law on harmonisation, it was clearly stated that the scheme of service in Adamawa and Taraba and some other states including Ekiti, Edo and so many states, the entry point of a  Law Officer (fresh lawyer) is level 10 that is N130, 000. Then you start on level 10 but at the federal level a fresh lawyer’s entry point under our scheme of service (fresh graduate from Nigerian Law School) is to start with level 9, may be after one year after exams, can go to level 10. The minimum is N55,000 and it is so funny and I am ashamed to say this. This is the salary of an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice. Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe Lagos it is the same thing but when you go to Bayelsa, a fresh graduate starts with N200,000 and above. With robe allowance which is for outfit (attire) which is another N500,000. Now in Rivers State a lawyer is getting N200,000 and above. In fact the highest is Imo State which is paying N350,000 for a start.
What do you mean by peculiar allowance?
We are not asking for salaries because we belong to the larger side of the civil service but law being a profession like the medical profession which builds on allowances. Even academic staff, when you look at it they were not asking for salaries, they were asking for research allowances. So in our case we have provision for robe allowance, which is peculiar allowance. Secondly, we are prohibited from private practices. Academic staff can go on private practices and they go to class and go to court but LOAN members because of the conflict of interests we cannot do that. So for that prohibition of private practice allowances need to be given to us. Then the hazard allowances, we are in the era of conflict situation whereby we have terrorism cases in court. These terrorism cases do not allow our members to take risk and go to court inside bus when the terror suspect you are prosecuting, the criminals are watching them. Some of the judges handling terrorism cases have adequate security provided for them. The other state actors like the Army, the paramilitary security personnel, the police have adequate security but LOAN members do not have such security.
It has been alleged in some quarters that these strikes coming at this time are politically motivated, what do you say to this?
It is not politically motivated. We love Mr. President, we love his transformation agenda, but we want it to be extended to the Federal Ministry of Justice so that we would be happy. We were elected almost two years ago and when we came on board our life span was normally two years. But these two years we spent almost one and the half years in consultations with stakeholders. Last June we invited all the stakeholders and sent out our reports, we have tried or do we die in silence?
Look at the plight of detainees both in police and prison custody, how do you feel for them?
Personally and officially, the JUSUN strike is a sad development but when they realised that that is the only way they can achieve result, that strike is the only language government understands. If they can listen to doctors and others who went on strike, what about us, are we not Nigerians?
What efforts has LOAN made before the impending strike?
We appreciate the Attorney General of the Federation and his team but we now realised that there are things that are even beyond their power, because it is something that has to do with money. I was opportune to be at a budget defence session and a particular chairman of a committee of a defence of budget was saying that a particular agency spent over N20 billion to pay external solicitors. What we are asking is not up to N5 billion. So we did not limit ourselves to members of our management because some of the promises made to our members are over 20 years old.
The Senate Committee chairman on judiciary is aware of our plight, Senate Majority Leader is aware, Senate committee chairman on rules and business is aware, we sent a letter to the  Senate President which he acknowledged.  We engaged National Wages and Salaries Commission with our report, we wrote letters to Minister of Finance, Head of Service and so many stakeholders, even the management and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), under the leadership of Mr. Austin Alegeh SAN, I think we have tried.
What is the remedy to JUSUN strike and what is the remedy to LOAN warning strike?
It is to do what JUSUN is asking for. It is a bad record from Monday to Friday for the courts to be closed down. JUSUN is not running away from dialogue. Since the federal government has already complied, let the states also reason with it and comply. Then in LOAN’s case, since the states have complied let the federal government also comply and that is why we opened our doors for dialogue.