Nasarawa JUSUN: Judiciary Workers Begin Indefinite Strike for Autonomy

• Nasarawa State judiciary workers have commenced an indefinite strike starting September 15, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum.
• The strike is driven by demands including a 40% Peculiar Allowance, financial autonomy for the judiciary, and the reinstatement of a 58.1% salary increase.
• JUSUN claims Nasarawa judiciary workers are the lowest paid in Nigeria and accuses authorities of delay tactics.
• The Nasarawa Judicial Service Commission has directed all staff to report to duty, citing a subsisting National Industrial Court order.
• The indefinite strike is expected to cause significant disruption to all court operations, including filings, hearings, and judgments.

The indefinite strike, which commenced at midnight on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was officially confirmed by JUSUN State Chairman Mas’ud Ubangari on Wednesday from Lafia, the state capital.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Nasarawa State Branch, has initiated an indefinite strike, bringing judicial activities across the state to a standstill. The industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was officially confirmed by JUSUN State Chairman Mas’ud Ubangari on Wednesday from Lafia, the state capital. This decisive move by Nasarawa judiciary workers follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum previously issued to relevant state authorities.

Ubangari expressed profound concern over what he described as the authorities' reliance on delay tactics rather than engaging constructively with the union's long-standing demands. The union's Public Relations Officer, Ogbere Zachariah, further elaborated in a statement, lamenting the Nasarawa State Government's perceived negligence in addressing their grievances. The JUSUN Nasarawa strike is set to continue without abatement until all its demands are comprehensively addressed by the state government and the Judicial Service Commission.

At the core of the indefinite strike are several critical demands put forth by JUSUN. These include the immediate implementation of a 40 percent Peculiar Allowance, which was approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission as far back as 2014. Another significant point of contention is the call for full financial autonomy for the judiciary, a principle enshrined in the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and further reinforced by the Nasarawa State Gazette of 2021, signed by Governor Engr. A. A. Sule.

The union is also pushing for the reinstatement of a 58.1 percent salary increase that was approved and implemented in 2010 but subsequently withdrawn, despite what JUSUN describes as severe economic hardship. They assert that judiciary workers in Nasarawa State are currently among the lowest paid in Nigeria. Additional demands encompass the implementation of pending conversions and outstanding promotions, the cancellation of contract appointments to ensure career progression in line with Public Service Rules, and the facilitation of approval for a 40-year service period and 65-year retirement age for all judiciary staff, mirroring provisions already extended to Magistrates and other Judges through the Judicial Service Commission. Finally, JUSUN insists on the immediate implementation of the Justice Shams Shama-led Committee Report of 2026.

In a direct counter to JUSUN's industrial action, the Nasarawa Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has issued a directive for all judicial staff to report to their respective duty posts and remain at work. This instruction, communicated by the Commission's Executive Secretary, Ramatu Idris, cites a subsisting order from the National Industrial Court as its basis. Chief registrars have been explicitly tasked with ensuring strict compliance with this directive.

The Commission has appealed to all parties involved to uphold industrial peace and to refrain from any actions that could disrupt the administration of justice and the delivery of essential judicial services to the people of Nasarawa State. The JSC also noted that it had previously constituted a committee, chaired by Hon. Justice Abdullahi Hassan Shams Shama, specifically to investigate the issues raised by the union, indicating an ongoing process to address the grievances.

The ongoing Nasarawa judiciary workers indefinite strike is poised to cause significant and widespread disruption to court operations throughout the state. With JUSUN members withdrawn from their duties, the functioning of courts, including the processing of filings, the conduct of hearings, and the delivery of judgments, will be severely hampered. This situation presents a critical challenge for the state's legal system and all stakeholders.

The union has made it clear that the industrial action will persist until all its demands are met, setting the stage for a prolonged period of judicial inactivity. This impasse, coupled with the conflicting directives from JUSUN and the Judicial Service Commission, creates an environment of uncertainty for legal practitioners and the public seeking justice in Nasarawa State. The disruption to Nasarawa court operations is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the rule of law and access to justice.

Lawyers and compliance officers operating in Nasarawa State should anticipate significant disruptions to court proceedings, including filing, hearings, and judgments, due to this indefinite strike. They must monitor the situation closely for updates on court operations and potential contempt issues arising from the Judicial Service Commission's directive to report to duty despite the strike.

Source: Original reporting via Collins Agwam