Ibadan, Nigeria — Operations at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and National Industrial Court in Ibadan were completely halted on Monday as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) staged a protest over unpaid salary increments and unmet welfare demands.
In line with a nationwide directive from its national leadership, JUSUN members across federal courts commenced an indefinite strike, demanding the payment of the 25% and 35% salary increment, the implementation of the national minimum wage, and the federal government’s promised wage award.
Courtrooms remained closed as judges, lawyers, and litigants were locked out, sparking frustration and confusion among legal professionals and citizens who had travelled long distances for scheduled hearings.
Speaking anonymously, a JUSUN official at the National Industrial Court lamented the worsening economic hardship facing judicial workers, accusing the system of neglect. “Judges don’t even see us as part of the judiciary. Our salaries can no longer carry us, and we’ve lost more than 10 colleagues across the country since February due to stress-related conditions,” he said.
At the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Mr. Atanda Babatunde, a JUSUN representative, affirmed the union’s commitment to the strike action. “We’re fully complying with the national directive. This will continue until our demands are met,” he declared.
The impact of the strike rippled across the legal community. Mr. Ismail Saka, a lawyer whose case was set for hearing, expressed frustration. “My client came all the way from Sango-Ota in Ogun State, risking life and spending money. We were locked out with no prior notice,” he said. “The strike is justified, but the federal government must act fast to avoid stalling justice.”
Another affected individual, Mr. Wale Oyegoke, who had a case at the Federal High Court, criticized the federal government’s handling of judicial welfare. “The judiciary is a sensitive institution. If these workers aren’t treated right, it affects the entire system. I personally spend ₦60,000 a week on transportation. Coming here today and finding the courts shut is both heartbreaking and wasteful.”
Mr. Seye Olawale, a litigant from Lagos, echoed similar sentiments, decrying the poor state of infrastructure and wasted effort. “I risked my life on terrible roads just to attend court in Ibadan. To arrive and find the place shut is deeply painful.”
As the strike enters its first week, calls are mounting on the federal government to address JUSUN’s demands urgently to avoid prolonged disruptions in judicial proceedings across the country.
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