Courts shut down as Anambra judiciary workers begin indefinite strike

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Anambra State Chapter, on Monday, July 15, commenced an indefinite strike over the failure of the state government to pay the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure, CONJUS.

There were no court proceedings in the High Courts at Ekwueme Square, Chief Magistrate’s Courts and Customary Courts in Amawbia, Awka.

Lawyers and litigants who went to different courts in the state were turned back as the entrance gates were locked.

Notice for the strike was shared on Saturday, July 13, and it copied all Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Chief Registrars, Registrars in charge, and staff of the Anambra State Judiciary.

The Anambra State Assistant Secretary of the union, Nwezi Ugochukwu, in a statement after their Congress, said the decision to embark on the strike followed the failure of the Anambra State government to comply with the agreements reached in 2011 and 2015 with the state JUSUN.

According to Ugochukwu, the agreements centred on fully implementing the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), a peculiar allowance for judiciary staff in the state.

He regretted that despite the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to the state government by the union, the government has failed to meet the demands of the judiciary workers.

The notice released on Saturday read: “The strike action is indefinite and all staff of the Anambra State Judiciary have been directed to withdraw their services until further directives from the union.

“The public is advised to take note of the strike action and make necessary arrangements, as all court sittings and judicial activities will be suspended until further notice.

“JUSUN has vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met by the state government. The indefinite strike action by the JUSUN is a culmination of the failure of the Anambra State government to honour the agreements reached with the union.

“The strike is expected to have significant implications for the judiciary and the public in Anambra State.”

The demand for the payment of the peculiar judiciary allowance for Anambra JUSUN has lingered for the past 13 years and at various times, the union and the state government have signed agreements on the way forward.