Ondo courts shut as judiciary staff commence indefinite strike
Judiciary operations in the state were essentially suspended on Friday morning when the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Ondo State branch, began an indefinite strike. The denial of access to court premises to judges, attorneys, and plaintiffs halted judicial processes.
All activities within and outside the facilities were reportedly halted by the securely locked entrances to the Magistrates' Court and the State High Court's Akure Division.
In an interview with reporters on Friday, Oluwafemi Afolabi, the chairman of the Ondo JUSUN, confirmed the industrial action and stated that the State Government was issued a seven-day ultimatum a week ago.
"We have instructed all of our members to fully follow the industrial action guidelines and to remain off duty beginning today, June 13, 2025, until further directive," Afolabi stated.
He said that the State Government's inability to carry out certain provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) giving the state judiciary financial autonomy was the reason behind the decision to halt operations in "all courts across the 18 local government areas of the state."
He added, "As a result, all courts in the 18 LGAs have been closed and will be impacted by the strike."
The judicial workers gave Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa a seven-day ultimatum last Wednesday to end the strike by promoting the swift execution of the MOU pertaining to the distribution of monies to the state judiciary in accordance with judiciary financial autonomy.
The Union expressed disappointment for the state government's failure to carry out the MOU in a statement issued by JUSUN Secretary Kehinde Alade to announce the strike action.
“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.
Kayode Ajulo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, was not immediately available for comment on Friday morning.
A meeting between the State Government and the JUSUN authorities on Wednesday, however, ended without any agreement or conclusion, according to an aide close to Ajulo.
"The union and the state government were unable to reach a better deal, thus the meeting ended in an impasse," he said.
