Judicial workers in Ogun have shut down court gates in the state following the commencement of a five-day warning strike over non-payment of the 40 percent peculiar allowance.
The workers, under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Ogun State chapter, were stationed before the state high court and magistrate court in Isabo, Abeokuta, ensuring that the gates remained locked.
On Monday, litigants and lawyers were seen loitering as judges were also prevented from accessing the premises and performing their duties.
Speaking on the issue on ground, the state chairman of JUSUN, Olarenwaju Ajiboye noted that the workers were forced to embark on the strike following the refusal of the state government to accede to their demands.
According to Ajiboye, 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 percent 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 18th March 2024.
“In August 2023, the government commenced the payment of a non-peculiar allowance to core civil servants. Immediately we became aware of this, we informed our national body, which 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 paying the money were not tenable and not acceptable to the union, that is why we proceeded on this five-day warning strike.
“The union held its congress where a 21-day ultimatum was issued to the state government to do the needful failure of which will need a five-day warning strike after which we will proceed on indefinite strike.”