Judicial workers commence five-day warning strike in Ogun

Workers in the Ogun State Judiciary on Monday, began a five-day warning strike, over non-payment of their 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

Both the Magistrates and High Courts in the Isabo and Kopabe areas of Abeokuta were locked as a result of the strike.

The workers, under the umbrella of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ogun state chapter, has earlier issued a notice of strike to the Ogun State government.

The Nigerian Tribune visited the two courts, as litigants, lawyers and judges were prevented from gaining entry into the premises.

The state chairman of JUSUN, Olarenwaju Ajiboye said the workers were forced to embark on the strike following the refusal of the state government to accede to their demands.

He explained that the union embarked on the strike following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to the state government.

Ajiboye said, “Today, Ogun state judicial workers commenced a five-day warning strike to protest non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance of judicial workers by the state government.

“After the warning strike, if the Ogun state government fails to do the needful, the union will proceed on indefinite strike come 18 March 2024.

“In August 2023, commenced the payment of non-peculiar allowance to the cure civil servants, immediately we got aware of this, we informed our national body who wrote three letters – one to the head of service and two to the governor directly on the matter.

“The head of service called a meeting with the union and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward. The reasons given to the union for the government not to pay the money was not tenable and not acceptable by the union, that is why we proceeded on a five-day warning strike.

“The union held its congress where 21-day ultimatum was issued to the state government to do the needful failure of which will need to five days warning strike after which we will proceed on indefinite strike.”

The main entrance of Ogun State Magistrate Court, Isabo, on Monday.