JUSUN Strike Paralyzes Activities In Courts, Despite Pull Out By Some Branches

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal High Court (FHC) Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on Monday, locked out judges, lawyers, staff and litigants from accessing the court, despite last minutes back out by some branches.

This follows the indefinite strike declared by its national body.

Citing the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, workers of the Supreme Court of Nigeria pulled out of the  industrial strike.

The workers of the apex court said that they opted to decline participation in the strike as a result of cogent and verifiable assurances extracted from the CJN after a closed door meeting.

This is as workers of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and those at the Federal High Court  (FHC) have also resolved not to go ahead with the strike.

NJC had in a statement by Mr. Joel Ebiloma, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), JUSUN NJC Chapter, hinted that a two -week grace was granted the authorities concerned to enable them put their house in order to meet their demands.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) report indicated that at the FHC headquarters located along Shehu Shagari Way in Abuja, all the entrance gates into the high-rise building were under lock. Judges, staff, lawyers, litigants and members of the public were denied access as business activities in and around the court were paralysed

JUSUN national body had, on May 30 in a circular by its acting National Secretary, M.J Akwashiki, asked all its chapters’ chairmen to effective from midnight Sunday, June 1, direct all their members to stay at home.

“It said that, “This directive follows unfruitful meetings in the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment who was conciliating on our matter.

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

“Our demands are for the government to pay us five months wage award, implement the 70.000 percent National Minimum Wage, as well as the 25/35 percent salary increase Solidarity for ever.”

Efforts to have a chat with some of the executive members of the union were unsuccessful as they were said to be on meeting.

Although there were reports that some chapters of the union had backed out from the industrial action, as at 9:48am, the Federal High Court gates were still under lock and keys.