The Federal Government has come out to say that the ongoing strike embarked upon by the duo of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, will end soon.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, recently revealed this after a conciliation meeting between the Government negotiating team and the two unions in his office.

According to him, the government has made offers to the two unions for them to consult with their various National Executive Committees, NEC, and revert back, so everything will be sorted soon.

He added that a lot of work went into the proposal given by the government side to the two unions, and it substantially addressed their demands for judicial and legislative autonomy in the 36 states of the country.

His words, “A lot of work went in. We have exchanged briefs with the JUSUN and PASAN. They have their demands, which they had earlier submitted. The government side has given counter offers and properly addressed the burning issue of financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary.”

“We expect them to work on the documents from tomorrow and if they are satisfied, they should inform us. And you know that when they are satisfied, the logical thing is to call off the industrial dispute. So, we are to receive their views on the government offer by Tuesday morning.”

“We cannot do this when the legislatures are closed in various states. We cannot also operationalise them when the courts are closed and Heads of Courts are not allowed into the courts or their offices.”

“We have made documentation and statistics for the State Houses of Assembly to make appropriate laws. So, we plead that you open the courts and State Houses of Assembly.”

“Besides, we are menaced by bandits, terrorists , and arsonists . With the courts closed, the police cannot tackle insecurity.”