Strike: JUSUN To Review Situation, Take Necessary Measures – President

Mr. Marwan Adamu, National President of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), stated on Monday that all organs of the union will meet to review the ongoing strike and take necessary actions following reports that workers at the Supreme Court and National Judicial Council (NJC) have withdrawn from the industrial action declared by the national body.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Adamu responded to reports that Supreme Court and NJC workers were not participating in the strike which began at midnight on June 1, following a circular issued by JUSUN’s acting National Secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, on May 30.

The strike was called after failed conciliation talks with the Minister of Labour and Employment, with demands including payment of five months’ wage awards, implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a 25-35% salary increase.

Despite the strike, NAN observed normal activities at both the Supreme Court and NJC offices on Monday.

Adamu dismissed claims of division within JUSUN leadership, explaining, “There are leaders of the JUSUN chapter at the Supreme Court, you should have asked them why they are not complying… It is not an individual matter; it is a decision of the organ.”

He further emphasized that state-level judiciary workers were not part of the strike since their demands differ.

“If any chapter decided to pull out, it is left for them to tell you because he who asserts must prove… The onus of why they are not joining is on them and not me.”

Adamu noted that the strike followed due process, including ultimatum periods of 21, 14, and 7 days, which all expired before the strike commenced.

He said, “We started today; there is feedback on what had happened. So it is now for the organs to meet and review and take the necessary step… It is a decision of an organ.”

On the strike’s duration, he added: “Currently a meeting at the instance of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) is taking place, and if unresolved, another meeting with stakeholders at the Ministry of Labour will follow… If the demands are met, it will be resolved, but I can’t tell you when the strike will end.”

Meanwhile, a communique from the Supreme Court Chapter of JUSUN, signed by 12 principal officers led by Chairman Mr. Danladi Nda, explained their decision not to join the strike.

The communique credited the CJN’s efforts to resolve the demands through engagements with the presidency and warned that striking would undermine these efforts.

It read in part, “Joining the June 2 strike will amount to misplacement of priority and neglect… With CJN’s commendable efforts, we owe her our unwavering support… We pray our colleagues be calm and allow the efforts of the CJN to achieve meaningful results.”