Judges, lawyers, and litigants were locked out of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and National Industrial Court in Ibadan on Monday as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced a nationwide strike.
The strike action, directed by JUSUN’s national leadership, is in protest over the non-payment of approved 25% and 35% salary increases, the national minimum wage, and other wage-related awards.
JUSUN official at the National Industrial Court in Ibadan described the hardship faced by judiciary workers amid rising economic pressures.
“Our salaries are no longer sufficient given the current economic realities. We are suffering, and sadly, the judges do not see us as part of the system,” the official lamented.
He revealed that numerous appeals to the appropriate authorities had yielded no result, adding that at least ten staff members of the National Industrial Court had died between February and June 2025, largely due to financial stress and poor welfare.
“The suffering is too much, and we’re not asking for too much,” he added.
Also commenting, Mr. Atanda Babatunde, a JUSUN official at the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, said the action was in strict compliance with the union’s national directive and would continue until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, lawyers and litigants who arrived at the courts expressed frustration over the disruption.
Mr. Ismail Saka, a lawyer at the Court of Appeal, said he had been notified of his case only to find the courts under lock and key.
“One of my clients travelled all the way from Sango-Ota in Ogun State. He risked his life, spent time and money, only for the case not to hold,” Saka said.
While acknowledging the legitimacy of JUSUN’s grievances, he called on the Federal Government to act swiftly.
“The government must be compassionate and pay these workers what they are owed. Fair compensation will not only improve their lives but reduce the temptation for corruption,” he said.
Mr. Wale Oyegoke, who had a case at the Federal High Court, also voiced his anger at the disruption.
“The government needs to treat judiciary workers with the seriousness they deserve. This is a critical sector,” he said, adding that the high cost of living was already taking a toll on ordinary Nigerians.
“I spend about ₦60,000 weekly just on transportation. I left home thinking my case would proceed, only to be disappointed,” Oyegoke added.
Another litigant, Mr. Seye Olawale, who travelled from Lagos State, expressed deep frustration over the strike.
“I risked my life travelling on bad roads, spent time and money, and now everything is wasted because the court isn’t sitting,” he said.
As the strike continues, court activities across federal courts in Ibadan remain at a standstill, with no clear indication yet of a resolution.
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