Lagos JUSUN ends 23-day strike, resumes work Thursday

Etim Effiong

Judicial workers have resumed duty in Lagos State after a 23-day strike to press home demand for financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Though work is skeletal, the resumption, however, contravenes the national body of the union, who asked members nationwide to remain at home and push for the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

It was learnt that the resumption followed a directive by the Administrative Department of the Lagos State Judiciary.

Many of the judiciary workers gathered on the premises of the Lagos State’s Judiciary Headquarters – High Court, Ikeja Division waiting for further instructions, as courts did not sit, even though staff were seen in several courtrooms, including at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, but there were no proceedings.

It was learnt that many of the judges did not show up at court premises, but the court’s general registry was open for business, as people were seen going in to file their complaints and other related matters.

It was also learnt that only Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo’s court was set to deliver a virtual judgment in a civil matter as at the time of filing this report.

On Thursday, the Lagos chapter of the Judiciary staff Union of Nigeria ordered the relaxation of the Nationwide strike it joined in on April the 6th, informing its members that the courts will only be open on Wednesdays to Fridays, for skeletal work including attending to cases involving fundamental human rights of inmates.

Lagos chapter of JUSUN is also clamouring for the outstanding 25% Financial Autonomy in Lagos State Judiciary and to feel the impact of the 75% which the Chief Judge claimed is already existent in the state.