Courts in Ondo State were locked yesterday as judiciary workers under the auspices of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) began an indefinite strike.
Their action followed the alleged failure of the government to honour an agreement reached on financial autonomy for the judiciary.
The workers, who complied with the order, urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to honour the agreement.
Some judiciary workers who were seen at the Magistrates’ Court, Oke-Eda, Akure, said they were at the court to enforce the order.
Also in Akokoland, the busy court premises were deserted.
A man, Emmanuel Ojelabi, who came to the Magistrates’ Court, Ikare-Akoko, at 7am to transact business, went home disappointed.
A JUSUN executive, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We are
monitoring the courts in case we see any of our members who want to disobey the union’s directive. The status quo remains until another directive comes from the leadership of the union.”
Speaking on the development, the state chairman, Ilesanmi Dido, said the union will no longer allow the government to breach the constitution which grants financial autonomy to the judiciary.
According to him, the administration of justice has collapsed in the state
judiciary due to poor funding and non-payment of salaries.
The JUSUN chairman contended that if Governor Mimiko had implemented the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on financial autonomy for the judiciary, judges and workers would not be owed.
Dido said the autonomy would address the deplorable condition of court rooms.