Ogun Judicial Workers Commence 5-Day Warning Strike Over Unsettled Allowances

Judicial operations in Ogun state came to a standstill on Monday as judicial workers, members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), initiated a five-day warning strike in protest of the non-payment of their 40% peculiar allowance.

The affected workers, rallying under the Ogun state chapter of JUSUN, disrupted activities at the state high court and magistrate court in Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

As our correspondent visited the court premises, an air of uncertainty prevailed, with lawyers stranded and judges unable to perform their duties due to the industrial action. Speaking on behalf of the union, Olanrewaju Ajiboye, the state chairman of JUSUN, highlighted the workers’ compulsion to embark on the strike, citing the state government’s failure to meet their demands.

Ajiboye explained that the union had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government, and the strike was a consequence of the government’s refusal to address their concerns. He emphasized that the strike could escalate into an indefinite one if the state government did not meet the union’s demands by March 18, 2024.

The chairman detailed the background of the dispute, stating that the state government had initiated the payment of non-peculiar allowance to core civil servants in August 2023. However, this move excluded judicial workers, leading to dissatisfaction within the union. Despite engaging with the Head of Service and the governor through written correspondence, the union found the reasons provided for non-payment untenable, prompting the commencement of the warning strike.

Ajiboye concluded by expressing the union’s resolve to stand firm in demanding fair treatment for judicial workers, reiterating their commitment to an indefinite strike if necessary. The ongoing dispute highlights the broader issue of allowances and fairness within the public sector, with the potential to impact judicial services in the state.