Judicial activities across key courts in Abuja were brought to an abrupt halt on Monday as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced an indefinite nationwide strike. The industrial action, initiated at midnight on June 1, left judges, lawyers, court staff, and litigants stranded as court premises remained locked and deserted.
At the Federal High Court (FHC) headquarters, located along Shehu Shagari Way in the Central Area of Abuja, all entrances were firmly secured, effectively suspending all court operations.
The strike extended its impact to other major judicial institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the Court of Appeal and the FCT High Court, which were also shut down.
This development followed a directive issued by JUSUN’s national leadership, instructing all state and chapter chairmen to ensure full compliance with the stay-at-home order.
In a communiqué signed by the union’s Acting General Secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, the strike was attributed to the federal government’s failure to meet the union’s demands despite several unproductive meetings with the Minister of Labour and Employment.
Among JUSUN’s key demands are the payment of a five-month wage award, the implementation of the proposed ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a general upward review of salaries for judiciary staff.
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Interestingly, the strike proceeded despite a prior announcement on Sunday by the JUSUN chapter at the National Judicial Council (NJC), stating that certain judicial bodies, including the Supreme Court, the NJC itself, and the Federal High Court, would not participate in the industrial action.
This exception, according to the chapter’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joel Ebiloma, was the result of an intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Following the Chief Justice’s involvement, a temporary two-week grace period was granted to allow the relevant authorities time to address and resolve the union’s grievances. Nonetheless, the broader strike directive by the national body of JUSUN was enforced in many locations, paralyzing court operations and leaving stakeholders in the judicial system in limbo.