Abuja, Nigeria – Federal courts in Nigeria, including the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja, were unexpectedly shut down on Monday, leaving legal professionals, court staff, and litigants unable to access the premises.
The closure occurred despite a statement issued by a chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) just a day earlier, on Sunday, asserting that some federal courts would not be joining the ongoing industrial strike.
JUSUN, the umbrella union for judiciary workers, had issued a communiqué dated May 30, directing its federal chapters to commence an industrial strike from midnight on Sunday, June 1. The union attributed the strike action to what it described as unproductive meetings with the Minister of Labour and Employment.
The core demands of the judiciary workers include the payment of a five-month wage award, the implementation of a new ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a 25%/35% salary increase.
However, a statement released on Sunday by the National Judicial Council (NJC) JUSUN chapter, through its Public Relations Officer, Joel Ebiloma, had announced that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the NJC, and the Federal High Court would not be participating in the strike. This decision, the statement explained, followed an intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and indicated that a two-week grace period had been granted to relevant authorities to address the union’s demands.
The Monday closure, despite this assurance, suggests internal divisions or a widespread adherence to the broader strike directive among judiciary workers.
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