Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN on Monday prevented judges, lawyers, staff, and litigants from accessing courts in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in compliance with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC’s directive.
In Lagos most workers stayed away in obedience to a June 1 circular issued by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN mobilizing its members for the strike.
The circular signed by the Acting General Secretary of JUSUN, Comrade MJ Akwashiki stated that the industrial action will commence midnight on Sunday, June 2nd.
It directed all Vice presidents, Chairmen & Secretaries of JUSUN too monitor their respective zones and ensure strict compliance of the total shut down of all courts and judicial institutes across the country.
At the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Igbosere on Lagos Island, a few lawyers could be seen milling around but none of the courts sat.
At the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, lawyers and litigants were turned back from entering the court, shortly after which the gates were firmly shut and padlocked.
Some of the staff who showed up for work declined to talk on camera but said off camera that they would have to return home.
Some judges also showed up for work but were prevented from sitting.
It was the same scenario at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja and even the Tafawa Balewa Square Division with JUSUN executives ensuring compliance with the strike.
NAN’s check at the FCT High Court, Maitama; Federal High Court, FHC; Court of Appeal; and Supreme Court showed that court activities were totally paralysed as JUSUN members positioned themselves outside the heavily locked gates.
Private security guards and a few police officers were also sighted around the court gates as lawyers, litigants, and visitors, including journalists, were not allowed entry into the courts’ premises.
Comrade Samuel Ikpatt, Chairman of the FHC Chapter of JUSUN, in an interview with NAN, said the union was in total compliance with the directive of the NLC that workers should down tools beginning today.
“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, there is no court sitting.
When asked if lawyers are being allowed to gain access into the high-rise building, he said: “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.”
Also speaking, Mohammed Danjuma-Yusuf, who is the Treasurer of the JUSUN Chapter of the Court of Appeal, told NAN that they were complying with 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 said the gate would be opened when the union received a directive from the national headquarters of NLC.
NAN reports that the NLC and TUC had, on May 31, declared an indefinite strike beginning today, June 3.
The organised labour decided to embark on industrial action after the negotiations between them and the government over the minimum wage of workers was deadlock
