All courts in Lagos State have been shut down this morning by judicial workers in obvious compliance with the directives of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to its members across the country to shut down all courts and judicial activities in compliance with the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour over a new minimum wage demand.
As at 9:30 am this morning, the Court of Appeal Lagos Division was under lock with about three individuals promptly turning lawyers back with the line “No court today, we are on strike.”
At the High Court Igbosere, it was the same scenario. A man who identified himself as a labour members was more dramatic and funny. A lawyer dressed for court this morning approached him to make inquiry and he was quick to respond in Yoruba language thus:
“Baba, e pada sile, e lo ma gbo radio yin” (Baba go back home and listen to your radio)
Reports reaching us from the various divisions of the Magistrate courts also reveal that they are all shutdown.
A registrar at the Magistrate Court at Agbo- malu Apapa who spoke over the phone with us said she had gone to court and was told to go back home by the union. Another sent a message thus: ” “the Gates are shut at Agbo-malu Courthouse here, no litigants or lawyers are in sight.”
At the Magistrate Court Tinubu the entrance gate was also shutdown while a few lawyers were seen walking away from the court premises. Magistrate Court Igbosere was also locked while lawyers and litigants were seen standing in front of the gate.
The President of JUSUN, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu had on Wednesday given directive to judicial workers to stay away from their duty posts from midnight on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018.
“As an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), all members of JUSUN are to stay at home from Wednesday midnight, 26th September 2018. Also, all Courts are expected to remain shut until further directive from the national Secretariat of our great union.”
“A committee in conjunction with the NLC and other stakeholders was put in place to go round to ensure compliance with the directive.
The three labour bodies in Nigeria, the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) have individually directed their affiliates to mobilise their members across the country to commence a nationwide strike effective from Thursday morning.
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