Concern Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Bauchi State Branch has faulted the inability of the union to elect substantive leaders to manage its affairs in a period spanning over five years.
JUSUN, Bauchi State Chapter has been under various caretaking committees instituted by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Association following the controversial dissolution of the branch’s substantive leaders elected about five years ago.
Since then, the association has failed to elect substantive leaders, an omen that continue to worry many of its members.
A Source familiar with the leadership imbroglio at Bauchi JUSUN told WikkiTimes that Murtala Muhammed who is now late was the last duly elected chairman of the Association.
Few months after his victory, he was confirmed as a judge which prompted the NWC to dissolve the excos and “verbally” appointed a caretaking committee.
The source confirmed to our reporter that the last crop of duly elected leaders of the Union in Bauchi was ousted following their doggedness against “the exploitative tendencies of the national body of the Union.”
He alleged that the NWC used to receive null financial patronage from state excos, which is the sole factor that determines how long a set of excos are going to be in office.
He said that current narratives prevailing at Bauchi JUSUN suggested that in one way or the other, the national umbrella of professionals working in the temple of justice in Nigeria supported the continuous handling of the affairs of the Union in the state through caretaking committee for either material or financial gain.
“From our findings, it is evident that apart from what is constitutionally approved levies, state chapters remitted into the coffers of the national body, other Naira figures in the shape of kickbacks were paid as a waiver for being in office and the failure to oblige leads to ousting.
“The last set of democratically elected leaders of JUSUN in Bauchi argued that there it is needless for them to pay any kickback to the national excos on the basis that JUSUN officials in Abuja have nothing much to offer to state members that necessitated such exploitation and therefore refused to give in to the pressure from Abuja and it eventually consumes them,” he said.
He said that when the caretaking committee running the Bauchi State chapter of the association came on board and began dancing to the tune of the national leaders, the NWC has since refused to “order the election of new officials at the chapter” for over five years now.
The Concerned Members of JUSUN Bauchi State Chapter in a letter to the Chief Registrar Bauchi State High Court dated 8th July 2021 and made available to WikkiTimes noted with dismay how the body saddle with the chore of being the custodians of justice in the society, the situation at hand is “degenerating into a lawless” state.
JUSUN’s holy book stipulated for a tenure of not more than three months for a caretaking committee subject to review of the NWC and four years for elected officials.
“With all due respect and sense of commitment, we write as Concern Members of JUSUN Bauchi Branch to notify you of our decision to call for an Emergency Meeting of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Bauchi Branch.
“This decision is informed by our collective desire to be the face of the Judiciary Staff of Bauchi State and truly represent the Judiciary as men of conscience, considering our bitter reality over the years.
“As the staff of the Judiciary, we are gradually degenerating into a lawless society, despite our contribution to the arm of government saddle with the responsibility of interpreting the law, this should and cannot continue,” Part of the letter which was signed by Mohammed Babani Abdulrazak, Chairman Concerned Members of JUSUN read
“However, the Caretaking Committee through its Chairman Abubakar Bayero continued to insist that there was a court order that leads to the dissolution of the previously elected leaders.
“After they committed an offence which informed the decision of the NWC to oust them”, he said the court order stood on the way for convening fresh election to allow members select their leaders.
He denied the fact that Concerned JUSUN Members are real members of JUSUN saying that “any member who alleged that the NWC is backing the continued handling of the affairs of JUSUN in Bauchi through caretaking committee is not a real member. Besides, you are supposed to ask them for their identity card before you listen to them.”
“Have you ever seen where there is a court order and an election was conducted? There was a court order that was issued after the formerly elected officials rushed to court seeking redress following their dissolution after they committed an offence.
