•Strike
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo branch today began an indefinite strike with judges, lawyers, and litigants barred from accessing the courts’ premises.
Akure Division of the State High Court complex and Magistrates’ Court had its entrances to the buildings locked, effectively shutting down all activities within and around the premises, reports The Nation.
Ondo JUSUN chairman, Oluwafemi Afolabi, who confirmed the industrial action to our correspondent, said the decision follows the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum to the State Government a week ago.
“We have directed all our members to stay off duty starting from today, June 13, 2025, till further directive, and to adhere strictly to the industrial action guidelines,” Afolabi said in a chat.
According to him, the decision to paralyse activities in “all courts across the 18 local government areas of the state” was over the failure of the State Government to implement parts of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting financial autonomy of the state judiciary.
“Following this, all courts across the 18 LGAs have been shut down and would be affected by the strike,” he further said.
Last Wednesday, the judiciary workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the to avert the strike by championing the immediate implementation of the MOU regarding the release of funds to the state judiciary in line with judiciary financial autonomy.
In a statement by Afolabi and JUSUN Secretary Kehinde Alade to announce the seven-day strike action, the Union observed with regret the failure of the state government to implement the MOU.
“Regrettably, the state government has reneged on certain parts of the agreements outlined in the MOU.
“This continuous refusal by the state government to honor these agreements has had adverse effects on our members.
“Having waited aimlessly since 2015, we hereby issue a 7-calendar day ultimatum to the government to honor the reneged parts of the agreements in the MOU within a period of 7 calendar days upon receipt of an letter,” the statement reads.
Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Kayode Ajulo, SAN, could not be immediately reached for comment this morning.
However, an aide close to Ajulo said a meeting was held between the State Government and the JUSUN officials on Wednesday without any agreement and conclusion.
“The meeting ended in a deadlock because both the state government and the union could not come to a better agreement,” he said.
