Judiciary Workers Shut down Federal High Court Lagos, Begins indefinite nationwide Strike

Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have shut down the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State in compliance with its indefinite nationwide strike, which begins today.

Gistlover gathered that JUSUN members arrived at the court premises before 9am and evicted court staff from their offices.

The judiciary workers also directed their colleagues in courtrooms and around the premises to comply with the industrial action, thereby sealing some of the offices and pasted strike notices on doors in the court.

In Abuja, the Supreme Court has been sealed off by members of the union. The entrance of the apex court has been locked, leaving workers stranded.

Staff of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) whose offices are within the Supreme Court are also affected.

Recall that the JUSUN national leadership had in an April 1 circular ordered the closure of courts from Tuesday until the government complies with the Constitution, court judgments, and other instruments, which confer or re-emphasize the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.

The circular signed by its General Secretary, I. M. Adetola, directed all states and zonal heads of the union to comply with the strike.

The union stated it had at its last National Executive Meeting on March 13, 2021 in Abuja, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to implement the financial autonomy of the judiciary with a threat that “failure of which JUSUN will have no other option but to resume the suspended national strike action.”