The strike action embarked upon by the Coalition of Magistrates, Presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts and Legal Research Officers in Ondo State worsened on Tuesday with members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN joining the action.
The coalition on Monday declared an indefinite strike action over the workers’ poor welfare conditions, failed promises by the state government and the refusal to grant financial autonomy to the state judiciary.
It was gathered on Wednesday that the workers locked judges out of court facilities in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday and shut down the Ondo State Judiciary Headquarters.
When reporters visited the judiciary complex on Wednesday, the gate of the premises was seen locked with judges denied entrance into their offices.
It was observed that several official vehicles belonging to judges were parked outside the complex, as judicial activities remained grounded.
Some of the judiciary workers told journalists that JUSUN joining the strike, further crippled the system in the state, calling on the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to immediately wade into the matter.
The workers are demanding that the state governor be committed to addressing the workers’ welfare concerns and grant the judiciary financial autonomy.
According to them, the judiciary system may remain grounded until the governor addresses their demands.
