The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State Branch, has commenced an indefinite strike action over the state government's failure to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Mr. Kehinde Alade, the State Secretary of JUSUN, announced the industrial action in a statement released on Friday in Akure, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Ondo State Government on June 4, 2025.
"We perceived the lack of response from the government to address the reneged parts of the agreements outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on May 20, 2015," Alade stated.
Background of the Strike
The dispute centers around a Memorandum of Understanding signed a decade ago that provided for the release of funds directly to the Ondo State Judiciary in line with the principle of judiciary financial autonomy. According to JUSUN, the state government has consistently failed to honor this agreement.
"We, therefore, direct 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," the statement continued.
The union emphasized that the government's continuous refusal to honor the agreements contained in the MoU has had adverse effects on its members and urged immediate action to fulfill the obligations outlined in the agreement to avoid further consequences.
This strike is expected to significantly impact court proceedings across Ondo State, potentially leading to delays in the administration of justice until the dispute is resolved.
The issue of judiciary financial autonomy has been a recurring challenge in several Nigerian states, with similar strikes having occurred in other parts of the country in recent years.
As of the time of reporting, the Ondo State Government has not issued an official response to the strike action.
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