Court Shutdown: Judiciary Workers Defy Directive, Lock Out Judges, Lawyers in Abuja

Judicial workers on Monday shut the gates of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal in Abuja, locking out judges, lawyers, and litigants in a move that defied earlier assurances that the courts would not join the ongoing industrial action.

Despite a statement issued Sunday by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) chapter of the National Judicial Council (NJC), declaring that the Supreme Court, NJC, and Federal High Court would not participate in the strike, gates to the courts remained firmly locked as early as 8 a.m.

A visit by Rooted Scope Media to the Federal High Court premises confirmed that the facility was completely shut, with workers, lawyers, and litigants stranded outside. The situation was the same at the Court of Appeal headquarters, raising concerns over internal coordination within the union.

The action follows a directive issued by JUSUN’s national leadership in a communiqué dated May 30, instructing federal judiciary workers to embark on an indefinite strike beginning midnight on Sunday, June 1. The communiqué, signed by Acting General Secretary M. J. Akwashiki, attributed the decision to the Federal Government’s failure to meet the union’s long-standing demands.

Among the grievances cited by the union are the non-payment of a five-month wage award, failure to implement the proposed ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and delays in the 25% and 35% salary increment for judiciary workers.

In what appeared to be a last-minute effort to forestall the strike, the JUSUN chapter of the NJC had announced on Sunday that certain key judicial bodies would remain operational, citing the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The CJN was said to have appealed to the union to allow a two-week grace period for the resolution of the issues.

However, Monday’s shutdown of the courts suggests a disconnect between the union’s national leadership and its members at the state level, casting doubt over the effectiveness of the CJN’s intervention and the unity of purpose within JUSUN.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by court management or the NJC regarding the situation. Judicial activities across the nation may face further disruptions if a resolution is not reached swiftly.