Courts Shut Nationwide as Judiciary Workers Begin Indefinite Strike
Courts across Nigeria were shut down on Monday as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced an indefinite nationwide strike, leaving lawyers and litigants stranded.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, gates were locked early in the morning, halting all scheduled legal proceedings.
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, shared a post on Facebook lamenting the situation.
“Federal High Court gate locked. We can’t go in for our matter this morning because of industrial action by judiciary workers,” he wrote.
The strike follows unresolved negotiations over unpaid allowances and poor welfare conditions for court workers.
Despite the Supreme Court chapter of JUSUN withdrawing from the action, the Federal High Court chapter insisted on continuing with the strike.
A JUSUN executive who spoke to SaharaReporters on Sunday evening confirmed that the strike would go ahead after a four-hour meeting with the DSS failed to yield any resolution.
“Strike continues even as the Supreme Court and National Judicial Council pulled out of the strike,” the source said.
Another meeting, scheduled at the instance of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), is expected to involve key stakeholders including the DSS.
Until then, JUSUN members have been directed to stay at home.
JUSUN SCA Secretary, Comrade Mohammed Isah, also affirmed this in a brief message, saying: “All staff should remain at home till further notice as another meeting will take place tomorrow as the strike is ongoing.”
The Supreme Court chapter of JUSUN had earlier resolved not to participate in the strike due to what it described as “peculiar circumstances” and ongoing internal engagements.
This decision followed an emergency meeting of the chapter’s executives on May 31 at the Supreme Court complex.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
