People Reporters Reaching out to the People in Nigeria
The National President of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Comr Marwan Mustapha stated in Abuja recently that his returned excess of 13million to the Delta state government was burned out of morality and patriotism and therefore do not deserve publicity. He told newsmen that the said amount was wrongfully deposited into the account of the Union as part of her allocation. He said ‘for me as an individual and as a Union, we do not take what is not our. Not because we don’t need money, but for the sake of posterity. I know one day, we will give out of our deeds while on Earth’.
On the issue of corruption in Nigeria, the labour leader said Nigerians are not as corrupt as believed in some quarters. Citing how a civil servant in Delta State displayed rare qualities by returning excess amount mistakenly lodged into her account which goes to say, there are still sincere Nigerians. According to him ‘corruption is not all about receiving and giving money, it included moral and ethical decay’. He however remained optimistic that the anti graft agency are equal to the task going by the high profile cases persecuted thus far and the inclusion of anti corruption in the nations academic curriculum.
On reforms and financial autonomy for the judiciary, the Comrade said, ‘the president has the political willpower but some state governors are deliberately sabotaging his efforts’. According to him, reforms and autonomy for the judiciary, will make it more vibrant and better equipped for the task ahead.
On garnishee that has been on the front burner, he said the approach have been yielding results as some state governors are opting for out of court settlement which is a welcome development.
On prison decongestion, the labour leader stated that until all the critical stakeholder are carried along, such will be efforts in futility.
He further stated that the leadership of JUSUN is committed to providing affordable and durable houses for her members. Some of the pilot states that have kick started the housing scheme include, Niger, Abuja and Nassarawa. He however noted some members with huge debt may be constrained from enrollment which will further discourage the developers as there are be no certainty or guaranteed of investments. He assured members of the Union, that soonest JUSUN will launch her microfinance bank as arrangements are in to top gear. The major objective of the microfinance bank is to ease the access to soft loans as currently experienced by her members
On factionalization within the NLC and minimum wage. He stated that factionalism was not a healthy development in the labour movement as all the parties involved have benefitted from the movement. He however used the opportunity to solicits the support of the media in enlightening the public on minimum wage saga as the issue of consequential adjustment is not within the confines of NLC.
He assured the public that the NLC will do all within her reach to ensure enforcement of the minimum wage.
