The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) held its first-ever meeting in Delta State, with union leaders commending the state government for its infrastructural development and the cordial relationship between the union and the state government.
Leading the delegation of JUSUN’s national leadership to the state, the National President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, said it was the first time the union’s NEC meeting was being held in the South-South. He explained that Delta State was chosen as host because of its developmental progress and worker-friendly policies.
According to him, the NEC meeting, which is held quarterly, is used to assess developments in the country, in each state, the judiciary, and the welfare of union members. He applauded the Delta State Government for executing several projects without internal or external borrowing for more than two years, and urged the administration to sustain the pace for greater growth.
Adamu further praised the state government for prompt payment of salaries, timely promotions of workers, and immediate implementation of the new minimum wage once it was passed into law.
Declaring the session open, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, thanked JUSUN for choosing Delta State as the venue for its first NEC meeting in the South-South. He described the decision as a reflection of the cordial and cooperative relationship between the state government and the union, and called for continued collaboration for mutual benefit.
The Governor outlined some achievements of his administration in the judicial sector, particularly the completion and commissioning of the six-storey Delta State High Court Complex, Asaba, in June 2024. He said the complex, one of the most modern in Nigeria, is fully equipped with multiple courtrooms, lounges, conference halls, library facilities, e-filing and e-payment systems.
He also highlighted the installation of virtual court hearing facilities at the correctional centres in Warri and Ogwashi-Uku, in addition to those already operational in the Asaba, Effurun, Warri and Ughelli judicial divisions of the Delta State High Court. Powered by solar energy, the facilities are designed to fast-track criminal proceedings and reduce delays caused by moving inmates from prisons to courtrooms.
Plans, he added, are underway to extend the facilities to high courts in Sapele, Oghara, Abraka, Orerokpe, Isiokolo and Koko judicial divisions. The government is also working to provide courts with verbatim recording equipment to automatically capture proceedings and ease the workload of judicial officers.
Governor Oborevwori further disclosed that all laws of Delta State have been digitised and made available online for free access by lawyers, researchers and members of the public.
He said these reforms are part of the MORE Agenda, which also includes grassroots empowerment programmes such as the Delta State Youth Empowerment Programme (DSYEP), the MORE Grant Scheme and the MORE ICT Care Programme. These initiatives, he noted, are designed to create economic opportunities, promote self-reliance and empower citizens across the state.
