The indefinite strike initiated by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Monday paralysed activities at the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos.
A visit by our correspondent to the two courts in the Ikoyi area of the state revealed that, in addition to the disruption of legal proceedings, the courts are locked and inaccessible.
As early as 9am, JUSUN members locked the Federal High Court gates in Lagos in compliance with the nationwide strike.
Before shutting the gate, the union ordered all staff who had reported for work after the weekend break to vacate the premises.
The JUSUN enforcement team instructed their colleagues in courtrooms and offices to leave the building to adhere to the industrial action.
They proceeded to seal off some offices and affixed notices indicating the commencement of the court shutdown.
The strike also impacted Lagos divisions of the National Industrial Court, halting all judicial activities as union members enforced the closure.
Some judicial staff members were seen in small groups discussing the situation.
However, the ongoing strike did not affect proceedings at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal and the Lagos State High Court.
Attempts to speak with some union executive members were unsuccessful because they were said to be in a meeting.
The union, in a circular sent to all chapter chairmen and signed by JUSUN’s acting General Secretary, Moses Akwashiki, stated that the strike was prompted by the Federal Government’s failure to address several urgent demands.
Their demands include the payment of a five-month wage award, the implementation of a new national minimum wage of N70,000, and a 25 to 35 per cent salary increase for workers under the consolidated public service salary structure.
Akwashiki stated that the decision came after a series of failed negotiations, including meetings convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment to resolve the issues.
