Judiciary workers begin strike, chase out colleagues from Lagos courts

Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) members on Tuesday began the enforcement of their industrial action as they stormed the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, and evicted workers found in courtrooms.

The unionists arrived on the court premises before 9am and directed their colleagues in courtrooms and offices to comply with the industrial action.

They also sealed off some of the offices and pasted notices indicating commencement of the court shutdown.

The JUSUN national leadership had in an April 1 circular ordered closure of courts from Tuesday until the government complies with the Constitution, court judgments and other instruments, which confer or emphasise 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.”

“Therefore, as a result of the public holiday on April 5, 2021, the strike action has been postponed to Tuesday, April 6, 2021.”