Judiciary Strike Ends: Courts Reopen as CJN Intervenes

Abuja, Nigeria – Judiciary workers across Nigeria are set to resume duties today, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) announced the suspension of its indefinite strike. The decision, reached on Tuesday, followed crucial interventions by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, alongside the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The strike, which commenced on Sunday night, had crippled activities in federal courts nationwide, with the gates of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja being shut. The Supreme Court staff, however, did not participate as initially indicated.

JUSUN had declared the industrial action due to “unproductive meetings” with the Minister of Labour and Employment, highlighting key demands including the non-payment of a five-month wage award, implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, and the 25% and 35% salary increases provided for in the 2025 Appropriation Act.

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In a communiqué issued on Monday, signed by JUSUN National Vice-President Mustapha Laminu and principal officers, the union stated that the suspension was contingent on assurances from the CJN and other stakeholders. These assurances include a one-month window for the CJN and relevant parties to engage the Federal Government and ensure the release of funds to the judiciary.

The communiqué explicitly stated that “upon the release of the funds to the judiciary, the demands by the JUSUN: implementation of the N70,000.00 new minimum wage and its arrears, 25/33 per cent salary increase and five months wage award and their arrears to be implemented immediately.”

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who assumed office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria on August 22, 2024, played a pivotal role in mediating the resolution. Her intervention, alongside other key stakeholders, has brought a temporary halt to the disruption of judicial services, offering a glimmer of hope for a lasting resolution to the workers’ grievances.