Kano, Oyo, Lagos Courts Shut as Judiciary Staff Union Commence Indefinite Strike

All courts in Kano, Oyo State, and Lagos were shut on Tuesday, following a nationwide industrial action that was embarked on by Judiciary workers under the umbrella of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home their demand for the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

NAN correspondents who monitored developments report that JUSUN members locked out staff members, litigants, and their lawyers from entering the court buildings.

The Chairman of JUSUN in Kano, Mr Mukhtar Rabiu-Lawan, told a NAN correspondent that the lockout was in compliance with the instruction given by the JUSUN National Headquarters in its letter, No JUSUN/NHQ/GEN/III/VoL II/65 dated April 1.

”There is no going back. We have begun the strike and all courts within the state have been shut,” Rabiu-Lawan said. Also in speaking, Mr. Kayode Olusegun, the Chairman, JUSUN Oyo State Chapter, said there is no going back on the action.

Olusegun expressed regrets that nothing positive had been done to the Executive Order signed by President Muhammadu Buhari,  granting financial autonomy to both judiciary and the legislative arms of government. NAN reports that lawyers and litigants in customary, magistrates’, and high courts were turned back.

Also at the Ikeja High Court, members of JUSUN donning red vests had prevented entry into the premises by members of the public by sealing all the entrances to the court premises. A banner notifying the public about the ongoing strike was placed conspicuously at the main entrance of the court. Members of the union were also observed chanting words of protest stating that their rights should be enforced.

“Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our right,” they cried. NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on May 22, 2020, signed into law an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

Executive Order No. 10 of 2020, made it mandatory for all states to include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets. The order also mandates the accountant-general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to the state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state, for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.

JUSUN on April 3 issued a circular ordering the closure of courts across the country from April 6, as a measure to ensure implementation of the order. (NAN)