The Ondo State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on Friday morning, commenced an indefinite strike, effectively grounding judicial activities across the state.
Judges, lawyers, and litigants were denied access to court premises, bringing legal proceedings to a standstill.
It was learnt that entrances to both the Akure Division of the State High Court and the Magistrates’ Court were firmly locked, stopping all operations within and around the complexes.
Ondo JUSUN chairman, Oluwafemi Afolabi, who confirmed the industrial action in a chat with journalists on Friday, said the seven-day ultimatum to the State Government was given a week ago.
“We have directed all our members to stay off duty starting from today, June 13, 2025, till further directive, and to adhere strictly to the industrial action guidelines,” Afolabi said.
According to him, the decision to paralyse activities in “all courts across the 18 local government areas of the state” was over the failure of the State Government to implement parts of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting financial autonomy to the state judiciary.
“Following this, all courts across the 18 LGAs have been shut down and would be affected by the strike,” he further said.
Also Read:
- Peter Obi and the cross of a Nation, by Valentine Obienyem
- First Lady flags off 2026 planting season in Niger
- David Ogbueli and unseen architecture of global transformation, by Blaise Udunze
- 2027: Wike’s ally joins presidential race, picks PDP forms
- 2027: Obi nears defining political decision after high-level talks — Obidients
Last Wednesday, the judiciary workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to avert the strike by championing the immediate implementation of the MOU regarding the release of funds to the state judiciary in line with judicial financial autonomy.
In a statement by the JUSUN Secretary, Kehinde Alade, to announce the strike action, the Union observed with regret the failure of the state government to implement the MOU.
“Regrettably, the state government has reneged on certain parts of the agreements outlined in the MOU.
“This continuous refusal by the state government to honor these agreements has had adverse effects on our members.
“Having waited aimlessly since 2015, we hereby issue a 7-calendar-day ultimatum to the government to honor the reneged parts of the agreements in the MOU within 7 calendar days upon receipt of a letter,” the statement reads.
