Judiciary workers threaten strike over minimum wage

• Issues 7-day ultimatum

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the new national minimum wage and other benefits or face an indefinite strike.

The decision was taken at the end of an emergency meeting held at the JUSUN national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said the seven-day ultimatum takes effect from Thursday, February 13, 2025, and will expire on February 19, 2025.

The communiqué stated that failure to implement their demands within the stipulated time frame will lead to an indefinite strike, starting from February 20, 2025.

JUSUN is demanding the full implementation of the new national minimum wage, N77,000, and other benefits for judicial workers.

The union has been in conflict with the Nigerian government over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage for judicial workers, even though other public sector workers have already started receiving the new wage.

The workers had previously given the government a 21-day ultimatum to meet their demands, but no action was taken within that timeframe.

The group’s statement reads: “The meeting principally centered on the expiration of the twenty-one (21) day ultimatum issued to all Heads of Federal Courts, FCT Courts, and Judicial Bodies.

“After exhaustive deliberations, the following resolution was reached: That an additional seven (7) days’ notice is hereby given for the full implementation of the subject matter in line with relevant guidelines covering industrial dispute and the urgent intervention of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun (GCON).

“That the seven (7) days commence from Thursday, February 13, 2025, and shall end on February 19, 2025.

“That failure to implement our demands within this stipulated time frame, the union will not guarantee industrial harmony, hence the strike will commence from February 20, 2025, indefinitely.”