Court delivers judgment in Melaye’s suit against Infections Disease Bill June 30

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday fixed June 30 to deliver judgment in the suit filed by Dino Melaye challenging the passage of the Infectious Diseases Bill

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu fixed the date after taking arguments from parties in the case.

The bill, which is sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and two other lawmakers, Rep. Pascal Obi and Rep. Tanko Sununu, seeks to empower the federal government to convert any property in the country, including private property to isolation centres.

The bill also seeks to empower the government to upon mere suspicion that a person is infected with an infectious disease, arrest and detain the person for as long as necessary, among others.

Melaye had on May 5, claimed that the provisions of the bill violate his fundamental rights, among which are rights to the dignity of person, personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to freedom of movement and right to own immovable property in Nigeria.

While the clerk of the National Assembly is the first respondent, the clerk of the House of Representatives, House speaker, attorney general of the federation and the inspector general of police are the second, third, fourth and fifth respondents respectively, in the suit.

Justice Ojukwu had on June 1, adjourned the matter until June 15, while advising parties to restrain themselves from actions that could jeopardise the suit.

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Earlier, counsel to Melaye, Nkem Okoro told the court that the matter was for continuation of hearing and urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the application.

However, counsel to Gbajabiamila Kayode Ajulo; lawyer to the justice minister, M.L. Shiru and Kehinde Oluwole, who represented the police chief, urged the court to strike out the matter for lack of merit.

They argued that a bill, which was yet to become a law, could not have infringed on the plaintiff’s fundamental rights.

Shiru, who represented the justice minister, stated that the country’s constitution provides for separation of powers among the three organs of government.

According to her, in view of the principle of separation of powers as applicable, it is a known fact that the court can interfere in legislative processes when there is only defiance from the provisions of the constitution.

“However, this power can only be exercised in respect of enacted laws and not legislative bills and we urge your lordship to uphold our submissions in the preliminary objection and decline to grant the reliefs of the applicant,” she remarked.

She stressed that the National Assembly had the powers to make and amend laws as provided by the constitution, but asserted that although Melaye laid emphasises on Sections 6, 29, 30 and 47 of the proposed bill, the court should dismiss the reliefs sought by the applicant as they are vexatious and annoying.

The lawyer asked the court to also award a cost against the applicant (Melaye) for bringing such application before the court.

Edo varsity workers protest over 11 months unpaid salaries

Workers of the Edo state government-owned Tayo Akpata University of Education on Monday protested over their 11 months unpaid salaries and pension.

The workers, who protested before the state Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, lamented that their families had been made to suffer, especially during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

They urged government to stop playing politics with their lives and demanded that without further delay, the government should pay their 11 months outstanding salaries.

Chairman, College of Education Academy Staff Union (COEASU), Mr. Fred Omonuwa, addressed the gathering on behalf of other unions in the institution.

While lamenting that the government had stopped payment of subvention to the institution, the unions urged the government to commence 100 per cent payment of the subvention.

“It is pertinent to note that the Edo state government used to pay inadequate subvention to the college owing to the 65/35 per cent counterpart salary payment agreement between government and college management.

“It is even now more worrisome that the state governor has gone ahead to stop the inadequate subvention to the college. The economic and social activities of the host communities are completely dead.

“We and our families deserve to live. Non-payment of salaries is certainly not a new way of doing things.

“The government has received several monies through the Paris Club refund, bail-out funds from federal government and funds from different organisations as COVID-19 palliatives. Yet, government has continually refused to pay us our salaries, pension and gratuities,” Omonuwa said.

Meanwhile, the state government has promised to release one month subvention to the institution.

The workers however, rejected the government’s position which was made known to them by the head of service, who led the government delegation to address the workers.

According to the workers, the one-month subvention will not be enough to offset one month salary arrears.

It will be recalled that the former college of education was converted to Tayo Akpata University of Education in 2014 and had remained shut for over two years now, but the workers were not laid off.