The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria effectively barred judges, lawyers, court staff, and litigants from accessing courts in the Federal Capital Territory in adherence to the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress directive on Monday.
At the FCT High Court in Maitama, the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, inspections revealed that all judicial activities were completely halted.
JUSUN members stationed themselves outside the securely locked gates.
Private security personnel and a few police officers were also observed near the court entrances.
They, along with JUSUN members, prevented lawyers, litigants, and visitors, including journalists, from entering the court premises.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Chairman of the FHC Chapter of JUSUN, Comrade Samuel Ikoatt, confirmed that the union was fully complying with the NLC’s call for workers to strike starting Monday
“We are the affiliate of NLC. So we are in total compliance with the strike action, including all our divisions,” he said.
According to him, no court sessions were taking place.
When asked if lawyers were permitted to enter the court buildings, he responded, “There is nobody inside the courts because we are in total compliance with the directive.”
Asked when the gate would be opened, Ikpatt said, ” Until we get a directive from our parent body, which is the NLC.”
Additionally, the Treasurer of the JUSUN Chapter at the Court of Appeal, Mohammed Danjuma-Yusuf, informed NAN that they were adhering to the NLC’s directive.
“So Court of Appeal is in total shutdown; 100 percent compliance. All the 20 branches of the Court of Appeal are in total shutdown.
“Nobody is allowed in, even judges,” he said.
Danjuma-Yusuf stated that the gates would remain closed until the union received instructions from the NLC’s national headquarters.
The NLC and TUC announced an indefinite strike starting today, June 3, following their May 31 declaration.
The organized labour groups initiated this industrial action due to a deadlock in negotiations with the government regarding workers’ minimum wage.
