By Charles Ebube – Abuja
For sometime now, our medium has consistently followed the unfolding scenario between the management of the ECOWAS Court of Justice and it’s employee, Temitope Obasaju Stephen on issues bothering on his employment rights which by all known international protocols make employment rights one of the essential rights enjoyed by all adults to take care of themselves, their families and also to contribute their quota to the peace, stability and economic prosperity of the society, a situation where such right is tampered with is abuse of human rights.
Though the management of the court has since classified the lingering crisis as an internal issue which should be treated in house instead of blowing the situation out of proportion by the media but they forgot the fact that the victim also have an obligation to himself, family and the society and maybe because of his personal experience with the same set of people in 2019, he decided to involve those he believes will assist to provide opinions that may resolve the issue timely.
It is a known fact that Article 33 of the rules of the Community Court of Justice, Article 9 and 10 of the supplementary protocol A/SP.1/01/05 amending the protocol (A/P1/7/91) relating to the community court of justice. Articles 2,3,5,15 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 2,7 and 23 (1) of the universal declaration of Human Rights Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948. Articles 2 and 26 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and ECOWAS Staff Regulations Article 7 of Principles of Staff Employment empower employees of any organization in the world to seek redress under these international laws especially when he or she feels his right of employment is being jeopardized.
However, since there is an existing lay down staff rules and regulations supported by the different charters, resolutions and articles within the legal frameworks that give legal backing to how such situations should be handled when they arise. The management shouldn’t have allowed the situation to degenerate to the point that the respected regional body finds itself.
It is pertinent that the issue of personal vendetta being raised by the petitioner is addressed as it will be unethical for the management led by Justice Edward Amoako to base their decisions on issues that are personal. It is time for the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice to look at those issues again follow the established regulations to resolve it amicably without wasting more time further.
It will be more honorable if Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of ECOWAS Court of Justice is bold enough to shun every internal influence within the system that is working vehemently to draw the hands of the clock backwards. For an institution saddled with the responsibility of adjudicating and resolving disputes for citizens of the member states, doing the right thing is the only option to save itself from all these unnecessary stress.
The Chairman of ECOWAS, HE, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of GuineaBissau, Member states and especially the Nigerian government should also not be seen as spectators rather they should act accordingly to strengthen the regional body by insisting on the right thing to be done using the laid down rules and regulations to address the lingering crisis to set a standard that will endure to put organization on the right path.
There is nothing that is good as pursuing peace which is one of the core values and cardinal point upon which the ECOWAS as a regional institution was set up hence it is expected of the management to uphold this value to as matter of urgency and come to the dialogue table with Mr Temitope Stephen in resolving the employment dispute and allow him to enjoy the extension alongside his principal according to extant laws that provides for any hardworking employee that is performing excellently well at his duty post.