Judicial Workers’ Strike Paralyses Court Activities Nationwide

The strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Monday paralysed activities nationwide, including at the Court of Appeal, FCT High Courts in Maitama, Wuse Zone II, Garki and Nyanya.

Correspondents who visited some of the courts in some state capitals reported that offices and court halls were under lock and key.

The national headquarters of JUSUN had on Friday declared a strike action and directed its members to down tools beginning from midnight on Sunday.

The union said the industrial action became necessary following what it described as unfruitful meetings with the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment over the demands of the workers.

The statement, signed by its General Secretary, M. J. Akwashiki, titled ‘Strike Circular’ and dated May 31, listed the demands to include the payment of a wage award spanning five months, implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, as well as the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase.

Speaking to NAN, JUSUN Chairman in the FCT High Courts, Abdulrazaq Yusuf said the strike had begun.

”There is the matter of the wage awards which the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members have not received.

“The Minister of Labour and Employment called the NJC, the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Accounting General Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Budget to a meeting.

“It has not been resolved. All what we have been hearing is that they are in the process of paying this money,” he said.

He said that some court branches of the JUSUN, like the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council decided not to comply with the strike order.

”The strike is ongoing until June 14. We are going to take necessary actions against the unions that refused to join,” he said.

FHC Lagos workers sent home

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court (FHC) workers in Lagos joined their counterparts on Monday and embarked on the strike called by the JUSUN.

The workers were directed to return home by officials of JUSUN, who were seen around the premises.

The union had, by a circular on May 30, mandated all its chapters to direct their staff members to stay at home from June 1.

The union was pressing for payment of a five-month wage award, including implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, as well as 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.

On Monday, staff members of the FHC in Lagos, as well as lawyers, litigants and journalists, who arrived at the court, were denied access.

The strike also affected food vendors at the court premises, who were equally directed to return home.

Part of the circular issued by the body reads: “This directive follows unfruitful meetings in the presence of the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was conciliating on our matter.

“We believe that, as directed by the organs of the union, the National Working Committee and National Executive Council of our great union, the action will continue until further notice.”

Recall that there were earlier reports of some JUSUN chapters backing out of the strike, but the gates of the FHC in Lagos remained closed at press time.

Meanwhile, the strike did not affect the state high courts and magistrates’ courts.

Strike: JUSUN members lock out judges, lawyers, litigants in federal courts in Ibadan

Similarly, judges, lawyers and litigants at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and National Industrial Court in Ibadan, on Monday, were locked out by protesting members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The national leadership of JUSUN had directed its members in the federal courts to embark on a strike on Monday over unpaid 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment, minimum wage and wage award.

A JUSUN official at the National Industrial Court, who craved anonymity, told NAN in Ibadan that their salary was no longer enough as a result of current economic situation in the country.

He said that the workers were seriously suffering while judges in the courts did not see them as part of them.

According to the official, several steps taken to ensure their demands are met have been unsuccessful.

The JUSUN representative said that no fewer than 10 members of staff of the National Industrial Court nationwide had died from February 2025 till date.

“The suffering is too much and we are not asking for too much,” he said.

Also speaking, a JUSUN official at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, Mr Atanda Babatunde, said the strike was embarked on in compliance with the directive of the national leadership of JUSUN.

Babatunde said that the strike would continue until their demands were met.

A lawyer, Mr Ismail Saka, who was at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, expressed his disappointment over the strike.

Saka said that he had been notified of his case coming up today and was surprised to have been locked out due to JUSUN strike.

He said that one of his clients came from Sango-Ota, Ogun State, for the case, risking his life and wasting time and resources.

He said that it was the right of JUSUN to embark on strike due to their entitlement while everyone was aware of the current economic reality in Nigeria.

‘I urge the federal government to be compassionate and pay them their demands, which will make them live comfortable lives and not to be corrupted.

Also, Mr Wale Oyegoke, who had a case at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, said he was angry that his case did not hold as a result of the JUSUN strike.

Oyegoke said that the Federal Government must treat the judiciary workers well, being a sensitive area.

He said that the cost of living in Nigeria was already high while government was getting enough money due to subsidy removal.

“The cost of transportation is very high, and if care is not taken, these staff will spend all their earnings on transportation.

“I, as a person, spend N60,000 weekly on transportation.

“Leaving home today, I thought my case would go on, but I am disappointed that cases are not going on due to the strike.,” he said.

A litigant, Mr Seye Olawale, who came from Lagos State, said that he was seriously pained risking his life on the bad road and wasting time and resources to come to Ibadan.